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Beats! What's it?

This page is for those who are still not very comfortable with the "beats" and "rhythm" of a piece of music or song.

The rhythm and music as a conscious learning starts from the very childhood. Nursery rhymes and lullabies are song, dance and games, in it’s basic rhythm patters, that prepares a small dainty and helpless child the tricks to hone up the skills to survive in this tough natural would.

The pattern given above is not technically perfect. However, it is good enough to get the work done. When studying these patterns given the subconscious mind will automatically and without even consciously realising will over come the imperfections.

Exercise 1
Sit at the table, elbows resting lightly on it and tap twice with one hand and then twice with the other. The first two counts 1 and 2 can start on the left or the right hand. The next two counts 3 and 4 on the other hand. First, start tapping with constant rhythm. When you are satisfied with the result, then gradually add the counts to the taps. The sound of the tap and the counts should coincide.

Exercise 2
Repeat Exercise 1, the only difference is the tapping is with the feet, preferably with the heels. Once you are satisfied with the progress then try to walk around with the same rhythm.

Exercise 3
Instead of the counts start with singing a nursery rhyme or a lullaby.

If you get the stepping and the singing rhyming with each other, then you understand the "beats".

Note:
In the examples below, the stressed words appear bold. It is here when the tap occurs. Adjacent to these words could be a word, which is not stressed such words are pronounced in a breath with the stressed word with much lesser "break".

In case you find the first example a little to difficult, then jump to the second one immediately.

Example 1

Jack And Jill Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.

Example 2

Baa Baa Black Sheep Baa baa black sheep! Have you any wool? Yes sir; yes sir, three bags full. One for my Master, And one for his dame. And one for a little boy, Who lives down the lane.