Create a Rhythm Vocabulary for improving music reading skills.

 "Music is Mathematics"

          While in the process of creating your community music project, it is extremely important not to forget that there are several essential goals that must be accomplished; all under the umbrella called “Musicianship.” How frustrating it will be to your participants to sacrifice their time and money to come to rehearsal once a week and not be able to participate because of something as simple as an inability to read the music being played.

 

          To start with, develop an ensemble routine that includes the ability to read arrangements correctly as they perform it for the first time, otherwise known as “sight-reading”. Failing to be able to count music can be the end of your ensemble before you are able to present your hard works skills in a performance setting. Devote the first part of your group ensemble rehearsal to developing a counting vocabulary-based system of reading rhythms. There are several excellent methods that use vocabulary to teach reading rhythms, such as “The Sight-Reading Book for Bands” and “Band Rhythms”.  These books utilize a simple method to reading music that can be adapted to any type of community music ensemble. Start simple, use large value notes first and then progress to the more complex rhythms. Develop a routine of using vocabulary such as 1,2,3,4 for whole notes, half notes and quarter notes. Use 1-&-2-&-3-&-4-& when reading eight notes. When the time is right progress to 1-e-&-a, 2-e-&-a, 3-e-&-a, 4-e-&-a, when using sixteenth notes. Then the fun begins by combining the vocabulary.

 

          Always remember that the act of reading rhythm should be described using mathematical genre. The understanding of fractional-based time signatures should be side by side with the teaching of reading rhythms associated with that time signature. Make sure that the parts of the notes are covered also. Teach the three parts, the note head, the stem, and the flags. Try not to get hung up on note on staff positions, which can be covered when your focus is on scale exercises and ear training.

 

          One of the most important goals to remember is that there needs to be a way for your community music participants to develop a way to decipher the reading of rhythms. Using a vocabulary to read rhythms provides a sound foundation for the development of the music reading ability of your community music ensemble while still creating an atmosphere of personal confidence.

"Repetition creates perfection,

the more you do it, the better you get”