| It is a good thing to be on the right place | | | | be quite expensive as we all know. You can |
| at the right time, is it not? Sometimes we | | | | improvise rhytmic patterns on you laps using |
| call this ability timing. When you play piano | | | | you own hands. Quite cheap solution, really. |
| this is a very important skill. The result | | | | |
| will be music! | | | | Just one example, try to play eights by |
| | | | alternating between your hands and place the |
| To play the notes at your piano on the right | | | | accent in different hands as you play. I feel |
| keys and with timing does not mean that your | | | | that this is a very stimulating exercise for |
| notes will be played with mathematic | | | | my mind. Maybe a form of meditation. |
| precision. That would probably not be music. | | | | |
| | | | Another way to develop your sense of pulse in |
| This is why a metronome will only help you | | | | your piano playing is to buy a metronome. |
| halfway to this goal. | | | | This is nowadays a very little musical device |
| | | | that will give a 100% even pulse and it will |
| You have to learn timing together with other | | | | help you learn to play in different tempos. |
| people and by listening to good musicians. | | | | |
| | | | As it is 100% accurate it is best not you use |
| You learn timing when you learn to react | | | | it all the time you play. Another more |
| musically upon other musicians playing. | | | | sophisticated rhythmic aid is a rhythm |
| | | | machine. Can also be bought as software to |
| In music there is usually a pulse. To be able | | | | your computer and it has nearly unlimited |
| to discern this pulse and become a part of | | | | possibilities. |
| this groove is something we can develop. When | | | | |
| you have acquired this skill your own playing | | | | As before mentioned the art of timing is not |
| will contribute to a good end result | | | | the same as mathematically perfect piano |
| musically. | | | | playing. Well, in some music styles it might |
| | | | be appropriate to play piano in this way. |
| Well, how then can you feel this pulse in | | | | |
| music? | | | | When I use my recording software and for |
| | | | example take a look at the bass parts I |
| You can dance or just move to music. When | | | | produce I can see on the graphic |
| your whole body feels the pulse you are | | | | representation on my computer screen that I |
| certainly on the right track. How the actual | | | | often play before or after the beats on my |
| dancing is performed is no big deal, at least | | | | bass guitar. |
| not as far as developing your pulse is | | | | |
| concerned. | | | | As you probably know the notes can be |
| | | | quantisized with the help of the software to |
| I guess the most important matter is to | | | | play exactly "accurate". Well, what mostly |
| cultivate the feeling of floating or surfing | | | | happens is that the whole production loses |
| on the waves of music without any effort. | | | | something very important. The music |
| | | | disappears. |
| Another important and effective way to | | | | |
| develop timing in your piano playing is to | | | | I usually play the bass guitar parts either |
| play drums. | | | | ahead of the beat or a bit laid back to |
| | | | create energy in the music. |
| I think this would be of great benefit to all | | | | |
| musicians. To be able to create rhythmic | | | | My definition of pulse is something that is |
| patterns when drumming will help you a lot as | | | | musical and a form of painting feelings with |
| a pianist. | | | | rhythm and notes. To be on time in music is |
| | | | to share your musical feelings with others. |
| Actually, drums are not necessary! They can | | | | |