My rhythm is off, inconsistent and teacher is annoyed. Halppp.
She makes me count beats, out loud, while reading sheet, playing the piano keys, and match the metronome. But doing all that is confusing.
How do I improve my rhythm so its consistent and the timing / beat count is accurate?
Posted Nov 11, 2020, 8:17 AM UTC
Just wanted to chime and and say I have the same problem. It's not reading music it making my hands cooperate that's hard for me, but rhythm! I'm terrible at it. I wish I knew a good way to work on it.
Get a Metronome
It's 8th notes that really screw me up.
Start at 80 bpm.
Only listen to the ticking for a few seconds and try to really feel the beats. Try to start moving your body with the beat (i.e. bob your head, sway side to side, flap your arms:whatever you have to do to feel the beat in your mind and body.)
Once you feel comfortable try clapping on every beat and saying 1 2 3... Then once you feel comfortable try subdividing 1 & 2 & 3... if it goes bad restart back at every beat. 1 2 3...
Always remember you may be hearing the metronome but you must be constantly listening and counting that beat in your head.
If you’re still having lots of trouble you can Dm me and I can try and help you more.
I use one. But even on 50-60 bpm I can't make it more than a few notes without getting off beat.
Get used to thinking forward, and ignore beaming.
1
(2,3,& 2)
(2,3,& 3)
I tutor folk to tap the pulse notes with first or fifth (heading in), and other eighth notes with piano fingers 23,4 heading out . The goal is to get the inner stimming/rocking process going.
You don't necessarily have to count 1 2 3 4. You can use syllables, sounds or words. I was always fond of tic-a-toc-a vs 1-e-&-a. Also works in 4/4 time. Boom-tic-tic is usually good for 3/4.
Can you count the rhythm when you listen to music on the radio? Try practicing that for a while. When you practice with a metronome, don't play your piece at full speed. Start slow and try to keep a steady rhythm. When you are able to be steady increase the tempo of the metronome and repeat. Repeat until you are able to play the piece at the tempo it's meant to be played at.