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Some scientists say that only humans have a true sense of rhythm. So how do we do it, and why do some people have better rhythm than others? Google “how do humans have a sense of rhythm” and the answer seems to be that it’s built into our brains. Duh. But music teachers have pondered this question for a long time and developed various methods for improving rhythm skills in students. The Dalcroze method (Google it) is one of the most famous, and there are some Youtube videos on how it works. This and several other methods maintain that to develop rhythm, you have to move some part of your body in sync with the beat – even if that beat is self-generated. As an exercise, Dalcroze students sit in chairs and listen to a song, then start moving whatever parts of their body they feel like moving in sync with the song: foot tapping, clapping, arm waving, head bobbing. It’s like dancing while sitting down. Rock fans at a concert do the basic head-bob or fist shake. Rhythm guitarists can jump all around the stage. Bass guitarists often just shift from one leg to the other. I like to tap my foot, but in my head I’m counting “1-and-2-and…..” and I’m aware that my next lick starts on maybe a “4-and” or whatever. And you might want to try this thing that helped me a lot: Buy some cheap bongo drums and start messing around with them. How long can you keep a steady beat going? Can you morph it from 4/4 to 8/4 to 6/8 and back again?
Sunjamr Steve
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Rhythm isn’t really in my brain, but it’s always hard work for me. (especially at Brians`s lessons). Best method for me also is counting 1-and-2-and … At difficult passages helps me, to count out according the classic notation system and of course a metronome or at least a backing track. I think best will be, to learn rhythm as a little child.
Also important for a good rhythm is, to breathe regularly and to sing the tune simultaniously.Dieter
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I agree with Dieter’s point. Exposure to rhythmic music along with the mathematical explanation ought to be done, as with languages, when people are young, starting in early childhood. The things I began learning then stick with me.
But I’ve seen cats respond to rhythms and I’ve seen videos of other animals responding. I don’t think humans are unique in experiencing it. We’re best equipped to reproduce rhythm, to analyze it, but I’ll bet goats get down when they hear the boogie (don’t know why I picked “goats” but when I did, I thought of Sonny Boy Williamson and his “The Goat”).
Don D.
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