Making Joyful Noises

How to Use Rhythm Practice Charts

key is tapping the dots at the right time while you maintain a steady beat in the grayed-in portion.

Practicing your rhythms is the surest and easiest way to learn how to make keeping the beats natural and satisfying. The following charts were designed to help you learn how to master the fundamentals of rhythm in an interesting but challenging way. The numbers running down the left side of the chart are exercise numbers, and the “dots” represent the hits or taps you will make as you count your way across (numbers 1-8 at the top of the chart). Choose a tempo for your practice session (slow, medium, or fast paced beat). While tapping out or sounding out the grayed-in numbers (1, 3, 5, 7) with your foot, hit or tap with your hand the “dots” at the time indicated in the chart. The

This is a challenge–in other words, as the exercises progress, it ain’t easy! Always seek to master a rhythm at a slower pace, and increase the difficulty of your playing by picking up the pace of the tempo. Concentrate on playing well, not playing fast. Fast will come if good comes along with him! The blank charts are included so you can create your own exercises to play with or share with others.

Making Joyful Noises: Master ing the Fundamentals of Music • 49