 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chipper
Date: 2004-04-07 14:09
I'm a 48yo student who began taking lessons last September. I seem to be able to play notes in sequence and the tunes are actually recognizable to some listeners. I'm not so good, though, at playing with anyone else. My timing is abysmal and I get lost, although I'm getting better at picking up later in the piece. What practice techniques can I employ to improve. The metronome? Perhaps an electronic drummer?
Chipper
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Author: Amy Tindall
Date: 2004-04-07 15:45
Metronomes are like gods in the music world. It's a must need for learning good rythm. They may drive you insane but they'll help drive you to perfection!
Amy E. Tindall
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Author: Jeff Forman
Date: 2004-04-07 16:27
I remember working with a now phenomenal banjo player (whose timing is now impeccable) on rhythm while he was a senior in high school. He could do all the fast and flashy stuff, but none of it was in time. So I used to sit with him and put on a Flatt and Scruggs record of Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms and we would wrap the left hand around the neck so no notes would not actually be fretted, and just vamp along with the right hand to the music. I also had him close his eyes.
The point I wanted to make with him was that rhythm is something that you need to hear, and more importantly, feel. By taking away the pressure of left hand technique, I think he was able to just close his eyes, tap his foot to the beat, and get the rhythm.
To me, there is no substitute for playing with other people (even if they are on a recording). Metronomes don't do it for me because they are too static. The beats are perfect and the real world isn't. And if everyone around you is a hundreth of a second off true time (say it is written as eighth note =120), and you are perfect, then you are still the one screwing up the rhythm in the group. And if you can't hear that you are not in time with everyone else, then you won't stop and pick up the right beat.
So you have to learn to actually listen to what's going on around you and get the feel of timing and rhythm. And my advice is for you to play with others, play with recordings, and sometimes, close your eyes and dance as if no one is looking. If that doesn't get you feeling the beat, then it may never happen.
Maybe I'll be criticized by the classical perfectionists, but that's my two cents.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 16:28
Attachment: rhythmmarkings.jpg (11k)
Also a few things to have are perhaps some recordings (even midi's of the songs are good). Cause what you may THINK is the right rhythm, may not be. Just because you can fit all the notes into four beats doesn't necessarily mean you're playing the right rhythm.
Perhaps some sort of percussionist method book might help to develop the rhythm (especially offbeats). Try clapping out the rhythm or tapping out the rhythm with your foot before even playing it. I do it very often with tricky parts in my music. Actually, I more than likely "say" the rhythm either in the timing (1, 2 & 3 rest rest tri-ple-et 1) for example or use the sound "Bah".
When going through music, I sometimes put a tick mark where the beat would be. Also, during really tricky parts, I will write out above the measure using tickmarks and the different parts of the beat. Since it's hard to give an example in words without the music, I've included a picture of a piece of music I'm playing with the rhythms above it. I put a tickmark wherever there's a BEAT and the use the letters e & a for the sixteenth notes after that beat. Kudos to anyone who can guess the piece of music from the few bars that I'll show! (although honestly, it's not nearly as hard to identify as it is to play) Don't be afraid to put all sorts of markings as fingerings, rhythms, whatever you want all over your music. As long as it IS your music (or light enough to erase). Whatever will help!
http://www.metronomeonline.com/metronomeonline/ is an online metronome if you ever feel like practicing in front of the computer.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-04-07 16:35)
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-04-07 16:45
One teacher said I was 'rythmically dyslexic'...nice!
So, my next teachers resolved to fix the problem.
Try and find rythmn EVERYWHERE...even walking down the street you can create different rythmns against the pulse of your steps.
Bopping is always great...halfway between singing and tapping...I do it with every piece before I put a clarinet anywhere near my face!!
Dan.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-07 16:58
Dan,
Good call. I remember back in high school (WAY back four years ago), when walking home with a friend, I'd find a rhythm in his steps. And I'd proceed to jump around and syncopate to his steps. Triplets, five-tuplets, just proceed in all sorts of rhythms within four or eight of his steps and try to end up back in step with him (left. right. left. right.) Was amusing and provided some entertainment. I'd do it every day until he said, "Stop jumping around you clown. I don't want everyone driving down the street to associate me with a maniac."
On a sidenote, it's interesting to see how the human race is naturally drawn to rhythm. When you see people walking down the street or a hallway in school as a group, take a second look and see how many are in perfect step with one another. Also listen when people knock on doors. Always in a straight rhythm. Just interesting observations of the world . . .
So don't worry Chipper. Unless you're William Shatner, I think you'll eventually be able to squeeze out some rhythm.![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-04-07 17:35)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2004-04-08 01:47
Arrive on every downbeat. Every note either is a downbeat, or is leading to the next one. If you worry too much about how long a 16th is, you'll be early or late for the next quarter, which is more important. Your entire musical-reading existence should focus on how each downbeat leads to the next.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: chipper
Date: 2004-04-09 14:42
Good advice, Thanks all. The great part about starting ANYTHING later in life is that one starts only things one is truely interested in. The motivation comes from the interest. I cherish my practice time and those around me are learning that unless the house is burning down leave me alone for a megar hour per day. Not a small feat with four kids still at home.
Peace
C
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