Rhythmic Exercises/Help

[ronaldh]

I am currently doing my AMusA (Associate of Music Australia), having finished Grade 8 AMEB last year, and also doing VCE Music 3/4 (its Year 12...its what you need to do to get into University).

I have one big problem with my playing,..and that is rhythm and timing... I have lots of trouble with syncopated rhythms etc. and was wondering if anyone had any ideas or in particular exercises that I could do to improve in this area?

Thanks,

Ronald

[ted]

In my experience, most people with a good sense of syncopated and off-beat rhythm at the instrument have built it up over many years of deeply ingrained playing and listening to those genres which exhibit it, for example ragtime, boogie, stride and swing. Boogie might be a good start, as its figurations and technique remain relatively simple while allowing any amount of complex variation in rhythm.

If it is all rhythm in general which is bothering you, perhaps in relation to its notation, then that is a much broader issue.  It is one thing to understand a rhythm from notation and quite another to intuitively feel it. If you provide specific examples of passages you find difficult then somebody, I am sure, will be better placed to help you.

[ronaldh]

Well...in baroque to romantic pieces..I really don't have many problems (mainly because the rhythm is much more straightforward)..
It is mainly styles like jazz or latin etc. I recently played a Brahms intermezzo and a latin prelude (which was quite easy for me) to my teacher at school and she commented that my intermezzo was played extremely well, but my latin prelude lacked that 'jazzy' touch, and sounded too classical. In other words, note-wise etc. it is correct, just the mood isn't there. I'm wondering if there is a good way to improve this?

Also, as part of our studies in VCE Music, we need to do some exercises (either those which are already written or ones that we can compose ourselves) that focus on a particular area that we have trouble with. So I'm thinking of doing one of them on rhythm and time, as it is one of my greatest weaknesses. If anyone also knows any good books/articles or ideas that could point me in the right direction I really appreciate it!

[danny elfboy]

Well...in baroque to romantic pieces..I really don't have many problems (mainly because the rhythm is much more straightforward)..
It is mainly styles like jazz or latin etc. I recently played a Brahms intermezzo and a latin prelude (which was quite easy for me) to my teacher at school and she commented that my intermezzo was played extremely well, but my latin prelude lacked that 'jazzy' touch, and sounded too classical. In other words, note-wise etc. it is correct, just the mood isn't there. I'm wondering if there is a good way to improve this?

Have a look at my "loop method" thread.
We're refining it and I'm posting audio sessions and it is becoming a nice interesting project. The method is based on the predominance of rhythm in learning music and in grooving the rhythm tills it feel automatic. I think it can help you a lot with finding the right jazzy rhythm.

[nia_kurniati]

This rhythmic is also my biggest problem. When playing solo classic its not too trouble, but when I play percussion in ensemble, or playing 4 hand piano, thats big problem  I always too fast, too slow, etc etc.

So when I play solo classic I use DIGITAL metronome, I lower the volume after I pass certain speed and so on. And when I am working a new piece, I set the metronome in smal count, the metronome sound every 1/8 notes, or 1/16 notes.

And there is rhythmic partiture if you know, but I only have 5 and I dont have scanner sorry.

What do you think if we take drum lesson?

And the end I would like some advice too from this forum, where can I find book of rhythmic because I couldn't find it in my town. My teacher bring it from Japan and it only few ones. Thanks.

[ramseytheii]

To aid your rhythm, practice with a metronome, but only tick it on the off-beats.  Never practice with a metronome ticking the downbeats; only the off-beats.

To get used to it, play simple music first.

Also, in the USA those yoga exercise balls are getting popular.  They are chair-sized balls that people do stretches on.  However, you can also use it as a piano bench, and bounce up and down while you play (I am serious) to aid your internal rhythm.  Also useful to start with simple things, like Hanon exercises, or the like.

I don't think they are very expensive, and they help.

Never use the metronome on downbeats!!!!

Walter Ramsey

[nia_kurniati]

To : Ramsey

So you mean by off beats = weak beats? So by measure 4/4 the metronome should be tick on 2 & 4?
Sorry, I am not native ..

[ramseytheii]

Yes, that's exactly what I mean!  It's the only useful way to use a metronome.

Walter Ramsey

[nia_kurniati]

Thank you Ramsey, I must try it.

[ronaldh]

Thanks for all your posts.
To Danny Elfboy: I have tried searching for your 'loop' method on the site, but I can't find it..could you please give me a link

My teacher has repeated tried using the metronome with me, for classical pieces etc it works...once there's a lot of syncopation I really struggle. We even bring the speed down to like 45 to see how I go...

Playing the metronome by ticking it on the off-beats sounds difficult! I will have a go...but I don't understand exactly what you mean. When I set my metronome on 4/4 , I get one loud ring for the first beat then and then three ticks. How can you get it to just tick on the offbeats? Or do you mean playing off-beat from the metronome by a quaver??
Thanks

[ramseytheii]

Playing the metronome by ticking it on the off-beats sounds difficult! I will have a go...but I don't understand exactly what you mean. When I set my metronome on 4/4 , I get one loud ring for the first beat then and then three ticks. How can you get it to just tick on the offbeats? Or do you mean playing off-beat from the metronome by a quaver??
Thanks

On some metronomes you can set it so there is no "downbeat tick."  I recommend you turn this feature off, and have all clicks sound the same.

When you use the metronome on the off-beats, you should play as normal, but have the ticking fall on the off-beats.  Don't play "off" from the metronome, take the metronome off the down-beats.

In order to do this, you have to set the metronome at one metrical unit higher than whatever you are counting.  For instance, if you are playing a string of quarter notes, set the metronome to half notes, and coordinate your playing so the ticks fall on the weak beats.  If you are playing a string of sixteenths, you can either set the metronome to count eighths, if you want to take it slow, or set the metronome to count quarters, if the meter is an even one.

If this is too confusing, I can post a piece of music showing how the metronome would line up with the music.

Walter Ramsey

[ronaldh]

Ah...I get it now!..I must try that...I will definitely get back to you on how I go.
Thanks heaps!