Timekeeping and sense of rhythm - developing skills

[Big_Philly]

Hey all,

I am teaching someone who has a hard time playing four consecutive quarter notes and then proceeding to 8 8th notes (basically doubling his tempo). His timing is reasonably steady but he messes up when he needs to double the speed. I am wondering how I can help him with this. Any thoughts or exercises? Or should I just spend an entire lesson playing that same exercise along with him until he gets the hang of it?

Generally, how do you develop a sense of rhythm in a student who doesn't have a lot of natural feeling for it?

P. S. I did a search on this but I may have missed something - please point me to a thread on this subject if there is one.

[ilanten]

Counting out loud is a MUST.

Let him count out loud 8th's 1&2&3&4&, while playing with his leading hand the quarter notes 1,2,3,4.
Then after 4 bars of playing the quarter notes, he should move to the 8th... and so on

What's important is the constant counting out loud.

Also,
Some times a metronome is a good idea, because it lets the student understand the basic concept of a pulse.

[diosdude]

Metronomes were created just for this reason.

Also: TAP YOUR FOOT!!!!!

[Big_Philly]

Metronome...
why on EARTH did I not think of that... I use that myself to practise steadiness.
This is embarassing...

Thanks guys!

[sciomako]

Sing the rhythm?

Shop... Shop... Shop... Shop...
Co-ffee... Co-ffee... Co-ffee... Co-ffee...

(Sorry, that's a bad example. But you know what I mean.)

[GrooveSlave]

Have him play quarters with the right hand (strong hand) and put in eigths with the left as a single stroke roll. 1 2 3 4 1 & 2 & 3 & 4. Hope that makes sense.

[Ian Williams]

Hello,

This might help, check Carmine Appice:
http://drummerworld.com/Videos/carmineappicepolyrock.html

Cheers,

[Big_Philly]

Thanks everyone. I just keep it simple and have him do some rudiments (singles, doubles) to a click (or to myself playing a cowbel) and he's making progress.

[larryace]

try going the other way, start out on 8ths and halve the time into quarters and see if he loses it.

[drumhead61]

Metronome...
why on EARTH did I not think of that... I use that myself to practise steadiness.
This is embarassing...

Thanks guys!

Along with the counting out loud (an absolute must) the Metronome is also a must to help develop him....glad you finally see that, but you should not be embarassed.

[Matty G.]

Hey all,

I am teaching someone who has a hard time playing four consecutive quarter notes and then proceeding to 8 8th notes (basically doubling his tempo). His timing is reasonably steady but he messes up when he needs to double the speed. I am wondering how I can help him with this. Any thoughts or exercises? Or should I just spend an entire lesson playing that same exercise along with him until he gets the hang of it?

Generally, how do you develop a sense of rhythm in a student who doesn't have a lot of natural feeling for it?

P. S. I did a search on this but I may have missed something - please point me to a thread on this subject if there is one.

Try this: you clap 8ths, have your student clap 1/4's, then switch every couple bars. Then have the student do it by themselves, first just clapping and counting, then with one stick only, then with both sticks. Then I'd pull out the metronome to tighten it up.