Rhythm-deficient student

[ilovechopin]

Hello!  My first post on this forum.    I have a twelve-yr-old student who absolutely cannot seem to hear (or play) a steady beat.  I know that movement activities are best to instill a sense of rhythm, but I'm wondering what might be good for a pre-pubescent      so she won't feel silly.  I've had her use rhythm sticks and am considering using one of my small hand-held drums, but just looking for creative ideas.  Thanks!

[janice]

Try this--with her dominant hand, have her put two fingers to her neck, like you do when you are taking your pulse.  In this order (progression of difficulty), have her:
    1-- Have her count her pulse out loud (1,2,3,4,etc., don't repeat these numbers, count to 100), I think this is better than a  rhythm from an external source, this is internal.  I think that it's important to start with the very easist thing.
     2--Have her now add the foot that is on the SAME SIDE, (still counting out loud).  She has to do her own pulse (it has to come from within) rather than yours.
     3--Do #1 & #2 again but with the non-dominant hand and foot.
     4--Go back and take pulse with non-dominant hand, and while counting out loud, her dominant hand will tap out the rhythm that she feels with her other hand.  Up until now, there has been no way for you to check up on her, without her feeling dorky , and you've been wanting her to avoid that, right?!
     5--Now, have her take YOUR pulse (probably from your wrist, so that she doesn't feel dorky! )  Go through all the steps.  Since it's YOUR pulse this time, you can check up on her before she goes on to...
     6--Now, she goes back to taking HER OWN pulse with non-dominant hand, her dominant hand will continually tap out middle C, tapping to the pulse she feels with other hand.
     7-Same as #6, but play c,d,e,f,g, and back down.  Over and over.
      8--Same thing,but SAY la, la, la with each note (or her boyfriend's first name, but it has to have one syllable! )
     9--This might be tricky!  Do #6, #7, & #8 but have her feel YOUR pulse instead.  Now you can check up on her!
     Keep progressing on, but by now, you can make up the steps.  Always keep in mind, to have her feel it from within first, before moving to an external source (taking your pulse).  
     Try these first.  If you need more ideas, please post again!  I hope this makes sense, because I'm tired and not thinking clearly now.  Have fun!
                                  Peace,
                                  Janice

[ted]

Simple boogie-woogie. This has the advantage that it probably appeals, demands absolute rhythmic precision  and exercises the fingers at the same time.

[janice]

Oh wait--I thought of something else.  You can edit/adapt these however you want.  I remember (not fondly!) my Junior High School days, and my feelings of dorkiness!  A great thing about J. H. kids, is the fact that if you can get them sold on the worthwhileness of an activity, they will throw themselves into it--heart and soul!!) Wait, I have another idea--have her bounce a basketball.  When the ball hits the pavement, have her count 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4,etc.  Then, do the same thing, but when the ball hits her hand, that will be the "and" of the beat. So now she's learning eighth notes.  I picked this activity because once it is set in motion, the rhythm is predictable.  Same with a pogo stick (do they still make these?  I'm old, I guess!) or a trampoline (hey, there's another idea!  Seriously.)  Try these.  If this or the others seem stupid, they're not.  If she REALLY REALLY has absolutely NO sense of rhythm, you have to start with basics!  Have fun!--Janice

[ludwig]

hello ilovechopin, i love him too. =) anyways, boy am I glad you brought this up. I started to do accompaniment again for the music exams here, and I get about 5 students, usually violinists, and most of them are hopeless at rhythm. They either can't hear the beat at all, or they just unintentionally move around too much in tempo. So the best thing I could think of was for me to play the notes while they count it and they play and I count for them. Usually after this, I tape their playing, first time without metronome, and then play it back for them with the metronome on. They can then hear that they are very out from the beat. Then I reckon the best thing is to play really really slowly, with metronome, then increase the tempo. I know this way's not that creative, but it does work for me... goodluck with this.

[ilovechopin]

Wow, thanks for the great ideas!  Using your own pulse is an interesting idea!  Ted, I think this student could play just about anything without rhythm, even Boogie Woogie (  :-/), but it's worth a try, and fun.  Ludwig, I like the idea of recording her playing too.  I'll just have to try them all.   I have the darndest time getting her to hold half notes and dotted halfs, no matter what the rhythm.  One thing that I've found helps too is using a book that has a CD accompaniment Hal Leonard's are fun).  They can hear the beat while they're playing.  Thanks for the stupendous tips!

[vanguard99]

I have one student who struggles with rhythm.  Improvement has been made by having the student play a past piece that he really enjoyed at different tempo settings.  The first time through, I 'clock' him with the metronome to get his current 'speed.'  Then I play it for him and verbally reinforce that I am hitting the key on the click.  He tries again no more than 3 times at one lesson.  Then, I use another reduced tempo and let him try again.  He enjoys the process and has improved.  I believe as we continue with this, he will continue to improve; although I'm not sure he will fully grasp it until he matures further.  (I am also incorporating more ear training for him.)

The other thing I have tried with 12-13 year olds is finding a song by their favorite contemporary singer (whether I care for it or not).  We listen to the song and try to determine the tempo of the song with the metronome.  I have seen that using music the student loves helps overcome the perceived 'dorkiness' because they think the song is very cool. If the student does not listen to music then this is where the change can occur.   Then, you get the benefit of suggesting the music.  

[princess]

get him/her to count normally, like 1,2,3,4 etc then get the student clapping quarter notes steadily on the beat  slowly getting to smaller and smaller note values.

boogying is also a great idea! especially line/square dancing!

when all else fails, it's back to the metronome. have him/her clap and count the beats