New Premises for this Exercise

Unifying Tempo Technique

In-time ---> On-time. It is essential to stress this simple notion from the beginning of our musical training. We must teach that in an ensemble it is more important to get to the next beat ON TIME than it is to play every note or rhythm perfectly within any given beat. We like to introduce this by having ensemble members say “in-time” while scooping their hand in a counter-clockwise motion and then “karate chopping” the beat on the word “on” as they say “on-time.” Demonstrate it by showing the beat continuing to move with your left-hand palm up moving from your right to left and “chopping” your left hand with your right. You can demonstrate that if the “in-time” rhythms cause a performer to be late to the next beat they have created a problem for the ensemble.    

Creating Style

Agogic Emphasis as Style. The concept of strong and weak beats in important in creating music style. Traditionally in 4 time the strong beat is beat one with a secondary emphasis on beat 3. We have also found that by placing weight on various notes in a phrase, the understanding of the musical intent is far more satisfying. Further, by placing weight on beats for musical purpose, tempi are far more stable. If no emphasis is given in an organized pattern the tempo will speed up or slow down depending on the complexity of the music at that moment.