 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Eileen
Date: 2003-10-02 19:59
Are some people just completely rhythmically challenged? There is a guy in my guitar class who in most aspects of playing is light-years beyond everyone else. But he can't play a simple rhythm. We played a song with the "Louie, Louie" riff and he couldn't play that very simple, fundamental rhythm correctly. How can you be so incredibly advanced in all other aspects of technique yet be unable to play the most basic rhythm pattern? Has anyone encountered any clarinet players with this problem? Does the ability to play a rhythm come from a different part of the brain than other musical skills?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-10-02 21:00
If you haven't seen that FINE motion pic/video, "Mr. Holland's Opus" about teaching music, get it! There are parts in it concerning rhythmic instruction/learning which grapple with this problem. Yes, some students have it [rhythmic concepts] well, others dont. Good luck. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Meri
Date: 2003-10-02 21:03
Eileen:
I was one of those who struggled with rhythm, didn't have any real rhythmic sense until I was in grade 11, when I somehow decided to write a composition for French horn and clarinet using the built-in metronome on the MIDI composition software my former high school had. It was the first time I understood the meaning of the beat. Now I'm told that I have an extremely precise sense of rhythm.
There are students who find basic rhythms easy, but struggle with more challenging rhythms. Others find the basic rhythms hard, but the challenging ones easy. (I have both types of students). Yet, I think part of it depends on how rhythmic development is encouraged: in my teaching, I have the students clap the rhythms before playing and saying the counting, and also do lots of duet playing. Sometimes I will have a series of rhythm exercises for new solos students will be learning, because many times the solos (w/piano) will introduce rhythmic concepts not in the method book. Now most of them can do 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 3/8, 6/8, 2/2, and 3/2, and up to sixteenths in most meters. (except 2/2 and 3/2, only as far as eigths) One has learned 5/8 and 7/8 (but his sense of rhythmic is exceptional--he found odd meters rather easy) and one (no longer studying with me, moved on) knows up to 32nds for 3/8 and 6/8.
Perhaps one reason I am so successful at developing a rhythmic sense in students is because I struggled with it myself.
Meri
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-10-02 22:41
I struggle with rhythm sometimes, though less than in the past. For some of us it is a skill that has to be learned just like many other things.
Mr. Holland's Opus - It cracks me up to see him beating on the head of that one kid so he can learn to play the drum.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-10-03 11:21
That movie was very instructive. I often tap students' feet for them, either by grabbing their shoelaces like Mr. Holland, or having them put their foot on mine while I tap. (Obviously, I save my dress shoes for gigs)
Allen Cole
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Author: ClaRiNeT_CaNdY
Date: 2003-10-03 12:03
i have been learning the clarinet for 2 yrs now. i only recently got to improve my rhthym.. one should sight read more and listen to more recordings and if possible look at the score. even better, try to visualise how the notes would look like..
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