PPP269: Music Maker – Rhythm

It really is important to be able to count and follow your internal pulse when you play. In last week’s episode, Chris Oill talked about isolating the rhythm when you sightread or when you have a tricky spot in your music.

One way to focus on the rhythm is to count as you play. There are several methods of counting: by the measure, by the note, by sight and sound using musical syllables.

By the measure – Counting based on the time signature: 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+, 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+, etc…

I don’t start with counting by the measure because it combines several concepts at once. I believe this is too much for a beginning student.

By the note – Count quarter notes and rests as 1, half notes as 1-2, whole notes as 1-2-3-4, and so on.

This is my preferred method for beginners. Counting each note individually isolates that single task and helps them start to internalize the value of each note without having to remember exactly where that note is in the measure.

Glory St. Germain with Ultimate Music Theory recommends drawing scoops under notes, especially notes held over several beats, to help students visualize the length. I find this very helpful for my students.

By sight and sound – Ta, Tadi, Takadimi

Using a common syllable “Ta” for any note or rest that is placed on the beat can help your piano kid start to build a vocabulary of musical symbols and their rhythm patterns.

When the quarter note is divided into two parts – eighth notes, you say “Ta-di-“. When each eighth note is subdivided, you simply add more syllables “Takadimi”.

This is much easier to remember than different fruits, vegetables, or candy bars that might fit into the same rhythm pattern.