LearningUkulele.com - "Two Moments In Time"
Learning the Ukulele — Invest 80% of your learning time in the fundamentals of music, the basics, the principles of music - the chords, the scales, rhythm, etc... Leave 20% for the songs.
Music, is “Two Moments in Time.” It’s these two moments that we need to manage.
There is a great Miles Davis quote that really drives this point home.
“It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note - it’s the note you play afterwoards that makes it right or wrong.” - Miles Davis
Miles also said it this way: “If you hit a wrong note, it's the next note that you play that determines if it's good or bad.”
“. . . in time.” - That is “Rhythm”
For years and years, I’ve been using Chuck Anderson’s Modular Phonetic Rhythm system for teaching “rhythm” - how to play in time.
Modular Phonetic Rhythm represents a significant advance in the teaching and application of rhythm. Eliminating many inefficient aspects of rhythm education, Modular Phonetic Rhythm streamlines the traditional educational approach, resulting in a reflexive reaction to rhythm. This approach is applicable to all ages and to all styles of music. It has applications for the individual musician as well as for groups such as orchestra, jazz band, marching band, small groups etc.
For reading music, it starts with the individual rhythmic syllables using the Modular Phonetic System, then the rhythmic pairs and finally longer rhythmic phrases.
Music IS - Melody, Harmony (Chord and Chord Progressions), and Rhythm. It is this Rhythm that is often neglected and taken for granted. Melody has its own rhythm and without the notes, at the right time, it would be challenging to recognize the melody. And we need to be switching the chords at, the right time, in the rhythm of a particular style.
Here is my tagline, blurb that I use all the time to description a strum:
“A Strum is the Execution of a specific Rhythmic pattern, at Tempo in a particular Style.” - Curt Sheller (me)
As you see from the above quote, “Rhythm” is an essential part of a strum.
NOTE: People will very often say, “I have no Rhythm.” Ask them to count from 1 to 10 backwards. An overwhelming majority will natural do “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, …” evenly and in tempo. What they actually mean to say is, “I can't execute a rhythmic pattern, i.e., strum, in tempo in that particular style.”
I’ve actually never meat anyone who doesn’t have rhythm. Meet a lot that can’t get that out to their instrument.
Links and Resources
Reading
For reading music, it starts with the individual rhythmic syllables using the Modular Phonetic System, then the rhythmic pairs and finally longer rhythmic phrases.
Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
This same approach applies when reading music - You don't read each particular note. First you start with the note and the individual modular phonetic rhythm syllables, then it’s more words and sentences - the measures and phrases of music.
So whether it is learning strums, reading or writing music, the Modular Phonetic approach is a break through in learning rhythm.
Miles had some great quotes and I finish one last one.
“Do not fear mistakes. There are none.” - Miles Davis
For someone new to ukulele, start with this Series of Weekly Lessons ⇒ that will help you create a core foundation for future development. And, fill in some gaps in your existing knowledge and skills.
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