Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-11-30 19:56
Play to the downbeats. It's amazing how many people don't do this (myself included, very often). Know where the downbeats are, and have your fingers ready to go there. The notes that are not downbeats should pull to the downbeats. There should always be motion, even in your head.
For example, in 2/4...
2 eighths then 4 sixteenths: 1 & 2 e & a 1...
Know where 1 is. However, once you get to 1, don't fixate on it. Immediately have your fingers thinking of the +, and how it is going to get you to 2. Land on 2, right when it's supposed to happen, giving it firm tone. Without downbeats, you have nothing. However, don't hang out on 2 too long, and immediately think of the fingering of e, and how that will get you to the &, and how the & will get you to the 1 by means of the a.
Everyone knows where the downbeats 1 and 2 should be, so there's no need to accent them. However, if they aren't where they should be, the music quickly loses its time.
To summarize, no notes should be static, including downbeats and offbeats. If you're thinking about the note you're playing for its own right, and not where it's going, you're bound to lose time.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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