A Practical Method of Rhythmic Reading to Improve Comprehension and Performance

Abstract

The inspiration to create this method of rhythmic reading came from working with students in class and private instruction settings for nearly two decades and noticing a common trend: students of varying levels of advancement routinely lack a fundamental sense of steady beat and the ability to accurately interpret and perform rhythmic notation. These problems become more profound in sight-reading portions of classes and lessons. This method is an attempt to provide instructors in either a private instruction or class setting a method by which they can help students develop rhythmic accuracy (separate from pitch), as well as cultivate a better sense of underlying pulse and a more complete understanding of meter. Rhythmic relationships and ratios are studied, as well as pulse/beat, meter (simple and compound with various beat notes), tempo, division, subdivision, dots, ties, and other related topics. Folk tunes and traditional rhymes are used to practice new concepts and help developing musicians master topics using familiar material. This method has twelve units of advancing complexity, each featuring topics for discussion, rhythmic drills for individual practice, two-handed practice exercises, counting tips, worksheets, and ensembles for group practice. A variety of performance suggestions inspire teachers to create fun and innovative learning experiences in diverse pedagogical settings. The method is well-suited for students as they progress past elementary levels of musicianship; completion of all twelve units will provide a thorough foundation for the more complex rhythms and metric nuances found in intermediate and advanced literature.