I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. It is such a strange time right now!

In April, I wanted to focus on problem solving in music, and in doing so, I identified an issue that we can all improve on- rhythm.

Accurate rhythm is a challenge. To a professional musician, there is no element of music more important than rhythm. However, for a young musician, accurate rhythm can’t happen until students have a solid foundation with note reading and some proficiency on their instrument.

The bad news this month was that I realized ALL of the students could use some work on rhythm. But, the good news is that they have all reached that point where they have that solid note reading and proficiency, so it’s a topic we can really work on!

We’ll also be having another Sharing Day in the last week of May.

Here’s what we’ll be doing this month:

Week 1

Discussing/reviewing the rhythm hierarchy and levels. Two handed rhythms- 1:1 hands tap together; 1:2 one hand taps every beat, other hand taps every 2 beats; 1:3 one hand taps every beat, other hand taps every 3 beats; 1:4 same idea. Switching between the two hands. The hand tapping every beat is the pulse.
Also, choosing rep for Sharing Day.

Week 2

Discussing metronomes- When is it good to use a metronome? When is it not good to use a metronome? How do you pick a tempo to practice with a metronome? Answering any other metronome questions. Practicing 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4 rhythms with (online) metronome.

Week 3

Looking at the music they are practicing: finding the pulse and the number of notes per pulse. Tapping the rhythms, tapping the rhythm with the pulse.

Week 4- Sharing Day