Rhythm is essential during piano practice
ALWAYS practice piano in rhythm
Why most piano students neglect rhythm
Why is piano rhythm so important while practicing?
How to make sure you always keep a steady pulse
Step 1 – Know your basic time signatures & note values
Step 2 – Learn to count rhythms with ease
Step 3 – Become a rhythm robot
Step 4 – Forget about counting rhythms
ALWAYS practice piano in rhythm
Do you have a hard time keeping a steady pulse as a beginner piano student? Piano rhythm is essential during practice. Even if you already know about quarter notes, half notes, eighth notes, and how to count rhythms, it can be tough to stay on beat, especially when you’re just starting out.
But don’t worry, it’s normal. While performing, keeping a steady pulse is essential, and it is equally important when practicing piano. If you don’t play in time during practice, your playing will never sound good.
With traditional piano lessons, there is an over-dependence on visual learning. Because of that, most piano students rarely develop the habit of consistently listening and “feeling the beat.”
Listening to what you are actually playing instead of being distracted by the sheet music is hard at first. Still, it will become second nature once you know how to develop good rhythmic habits while practicing.
The more you neglect rhythm, the harder it will be to correct the habit of not keeping a steady pulse during every practice session. Sadly, most piano students and many teachers overlook this aspect of music.
Why most piano students neglect rhythm
One of the main reasons why tempo is neglected during piano practice is that humans can only focus on one thing at a time.
When you’re first starting out, you have to learn notes and rests, black and white note names, where to place your fingers, what fingering and hand position is best for a particular passage, etc.
So it’s no wonder that beginners have a hard time keeping a steady pulse – there’s just too much to think about! However, counting and keeping a steady pulse are essential skills for any musician, so it’s important to incorporate rhythm into every practice session.
Counting out the rhythm allows you to focus only on keeping a steady pulse and will help you develop excellent rhythmic habits.
If you are having a tough time keeping rhythm, the most common problem is that you are going too fast. Slow down until keeping a steady rhythm is manageable.
Why is piano rhythm so important while practicing?
There are many reasons why keeping a steady pulse while practicing is important. First of all, rhythm is the foundation of music, and without it, there would be no music – only noise.
In addition, rhythm is what gives a piece of music its groove and makes it sound good. Without a steady pulse, your playing will sound choppy and disconnected.
We all know the saying, “garbage in, garbage out.” If it is your habit to practice without keeping a steady pulse, you will surely continue the habit while performing for others.
Finally, rhythm allows you to keep time while you’re playing. If you can’t keep time, you won’t be able to play in a group, orchestra, or for your church choir.
How to make sure you always keep a steady pulse
Don’t get discouraged as an adult beginner piano student and think you can’t keep a steady pulse. We all have rhythm; it’s just a matter of training ourselves to pay attention to what we already know.
Here is a step-by-step approach to making sure adult beginners form the habit of always playing and keeping a steady pulse while practicing.
Step 1 – Know your basic time signatures & note values
Time Signature
A time signature is a symbol at the beginning of a piece of sheet music that tells the musician how many beats are in each measure and what kind of note gets one beat.
The top number in a time signature tells how many beats are in each measure. The bottom number tells what kind of note gets one beat.
For example, in 4/4 time, there are 4 quarter notes in each bar of music, and a quarter note counts as one beat. In 3/4 time, there are 3 quarter notes in each measure, and a quarter note gets one beat. In 2/4 time, there are 2 quarter notes in each measure, and a quarter note gets one beat.
4/4 and 3/4 time signatures are the most common you’ll come across.
4/4 is sometimes called “common time” because it’s ubiquitous in music. You’ll find 4/4 in all sorts of genres, from classical to pop.
The 3/4 time signature is also quite common and is often used in waltzes and other dances.
The 2/4 time signature is usually used for marches; however, 2/4 time is by no means limited to simple music. You’ll also find it in some classical pieces and in modern pop and rock songs.
Whole note
A whole note is a note that lasts for the same duration as four quarter notes (if they were tied together) and is held for four beats.
They are the easiest to play since they don’t require you to do anything except hold down the key for the entire measure in common time.
This can be tricky when you’re first starting out since it’s easy to get impatient and let go early, but with a bit of practice keeping time, you’ll soon be playing whole notes like a pro.
Half note
A half note is worth two-quarter notes. That’s all there is to it!
If you count rhythm using the half note, you’ll only count two beats rather than four. This can be a little tricky at first, but with practice, it’ll become second nature.
Quarter note
A quarter note is a note played for one-quarter of the duration of a whole note.
In 4/4 time, quarter notes are the most common type of note, and they are typically counted as “1, 2, 3, 4.”
The count is adjusted accordingly when quarter notes are played in 3/4 time. When you count rhythm using quarter notes in 3/4 time, they would be counted as “1, 2, 3.”
When practicing piano music, make sure not to rush into the next part of the music due to impatience, and always keep a steady pulse.
Eighth note
An eighth note is a musical note that is half the duration of a quarter note.
When counting rhythm, eighth notes are counted as “one and two and three and four and” in 4/4 time. In 3/4 time, they would be counted as “one and two and three and.”
Two eighth notes tied together are equal to a one-quarter note.
Eighth notes can be either beamed or unbeamed. Some people find unbeamed eighth notes easier to read, while others find them more confusing. I find beamed eighth notes easier to read because it’s easier to see the groupings.
They are grouped together in sets of two or more, and the beams help to indicate the rhythm.
Step 2 – Learn to count rhythms with ease
One of the most important skills for any musician is the ability to count rhythms. This may seem like a simple task, but it is actually quite complex.
To be able to count rhythms, you need to have a good sense of timing.
Use piano rhythm exercises on a regular basis
The best way to develop these skills as an adult beginner is by doing rhythm exercises on a regular basis. You can start with whole and half notes, then quarter and eighth notes, and do not advance into 16th notes until you can easily play every combination of whole, half, quarter, and eighth notes.
Only then should you begin learning more complex rhythms.
Use a metronome
Use a metronome while practicing piano rhythm.
A mechanical metronome is an option that doesn’t require electricity. So if your power goes out, you can still keep practicing!
Some musicians prefer electronic metronomes or apps because they offer more features. Still, mechanical metronomes are tried-and-true, and there’s something satisfying about hearing that mechanical ticking sound as you count the rhythm.
However, there are a lot of electronic metronomes to choose from nowadays. There is even one that looks like a watch and vibrates.
As a beginner, you want to use one that is not overly complex and easy to use for 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 time.
The beauty of using a metronome app on your mobile phone or tablet is that you can carry it with you wherever you go. Plus, if the sound annoys you, many have different sounds to choose from.
Pick the one that works best for you and get in the habit of using it. It is, without a doubt, the best rhythm training tool out there.
It’s also helpful to record yourself and play it back to check your timing with a metronome.
Remember, you don’t want to play perfectly on the beat like a machine when performing. But you do need to train yourself to play perfectly on the beat like a machine when you want to during practice.
Stop, don’t look, and listen
It’s surprising how many piano students use their eyes instead of their ears to keep time while practicing piano. It’s understandable as looking at sheet music is how we learn new pieces of music.
However, it is imperative to be able to hear the steady pulse of music so that keeping rhythm becomes second nature.
After playing the right notes for the first time after repeating them several times out of rhythm because of the learning process, you need to stop. Then, count aloud or clap the rhythm of the section you are working on a couple of times before repeating the section.
This will help you learn the music faster and internalize the habit of keeping a steady pulse while enhancing your musical flow.
Step 3 – Become a piano rhythm robot
As a beginner adult piano student, you’ll need to develop the ability to keep a steady pulse right from the start of your musical journey.
This means finding basic rhythm exercises that you can master and repeat on a regular basis. Your tempo exercises should be done with a full mental focus and not depend on visual learning.
You want to be able to feel and hear the beat without thinking about it, especially while practicing. So that even without looking at sheet music, or the light flashing on your metronome, you will be sure to keep a steady pulse.
You need to train yourself to become a “piano robot” that keeps a steady pulse automatically as a result of good rhythmic habits during practice sessions. Counting allows you to focus only on the rhythm and will help you keep better time.
If you are having a tough time keeping time, the most common problem is that you are going too fast. Slow down until keeping a steady beat is manageable.
Step 4 – Forget about counting rhythms
Now that you understand the importance of keeping a steady pulse while practicing piano, it’s time to forget about counting rhythms and let your non-conscious mind take over.
Once you follow the advice given in this article, you should be able to automatically and consistently keep a steady pulse. That should happen because of all the basic rhythm exercises you’ve programmed into your subconscious.
Then you’ll be able to practice without worrying about the tempo – your body will know what to do! And if you ever find yourself struggling to keep a steady pulse, just close your eyes and listen to your internal metronome ticking away in your head. Soon enough, you’ll be keeping perfect time once again.
Conclusion
Well, that’s it! You now have everything you need to improve your piano rhythm and make better music. Just remember to start small, be patient, and have fun.
There’s no need to feel intimidated by the process; with practice, you should be able to apply these concepts in your own music-making.
Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to see results, and remember, practice makes perfect. With enough time and effort, anyone can develop an impeccable sense of timing.
Keep making the impossible easy with practice,
Bill Deputy (pianodragon.com)
