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Practicing In Altered Rhythms
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Do you ever reach a point in learning a piece where it just doesn’t seem to get any better? You
still make mistakes in the same places or have difficulty with the same chord changes or scale
passages? Or do you find that even when you play a piece you have been playing for years
that the same passages still trip you up?
I learned how to overcome those difficulties from pianist Samuel Sanders, one of the most
respected accompanists of the twentieth century. He was Itzhak Perlman’s chief accompanist
from 1966-1999 and accompanist to Pinchas Zukerman, Paula Robison, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua
Bell, Mstislav Rostropovich, and many others.
His was a simple routine: practice at tempo, then slow, then with altered rhythms, and finally at
half speed with a metronome. I think one of the key ingredients is practicing with altered
rhythms.
Say you were having trouble with the final scales in the finale of Fernando Sor’s Introduction
and Variations on a Theme by Mozart op.9. The scale seven measures from the end is written
like this:
Ex. #1
Using Samuel Sanders’ routine, we would practice it at tempo, about MM=160 for an eighth
note, or as fast as we could play it well. Then we would practice it slowly, maybe about MM=100
for an eighth note.
Then we would practice in altered rhythms. Here is one way in a long-short-short rhythmic
pattern:
Ex. #2
Here is another version in a short-short-long rhythmic pattern:
Ex. #3
Here is yet another possibility in a dotted rhythm:
Ex. #4
Finally we would practice the original version at half speed, MM=80 for an eighth note.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For another example, let’s look at Bach’s Allemande from Lute Suite I BWV 996.
Ex. #5
Here are a few possible versions in altered rhythms. First a dotted rhythm:
Ex. #6
Or a reverse dotted rhythm:
Ex. #7
Or a version in 12/8:
Ex. #8
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Let's look at Antonio Lauro’s Vals Venezolana No. 3. Measures 18-20 are written originally as:
Ex. #9
They could be practiced in a dotted rhythm:
Ex. #10
Or in a reverse dotted rhythm:
Ex. #11
In a "short-short-long" pattern:
Ex. #12
Or in a "long, short, short" pattern:
Ex. #13
Practicing in altered rhythms seems to break up muscle memory; especially old, entrenched
muscle memory that produces the same mistakes day after day, month after month, even year
after year. Although the tempo at which you practice the altered patterns doesn’t seem to be
too critical to its benefits, I would try playing the altered versions on both the slow and fast side.
I recommend using the Samuel Sanders practice routine on brand new pieces as well. It will
give you a lot more control of tricky passages and therefore help you relax during their
execution.
Remember, practice at tempo, then slow, then with altered rhythms, and finally at half speed
with a metronome. This really works. You’ve got to try it. You will be amazed by the results in
just one to two days.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
By Douglas Niedt
Copyright Douglas Niedt, All Rights Reserved. This article may be reprinted, but please be
considerate and give credit to Douglas Niedt.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Do you ever reach a point in learning a piece where it just doesn’t seem to get any better? You
still make mistakes in the same places or have difficulty with the same chord changes or scale
passages? Or do you find that even when you play a piece you have been playing for years
that the same passages still trip you up?
I learned how to overcome those difficulties from pianist Samuel Sanders, one of the most
respected accompanists of the twentieth century. He was Itzhak Perlman’s chief accompanist
from 1966-1999 and accompanist to Pinchas Zukerman, Paula Robison, Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua
Bell, Mstislav Rostropovich, and many others.
His was a simple routine: practice at tempo, then slow, then with altered rhythms, and finally at
half speed with a metronome. I think one of the key ingredients is practicing with altered
rhythms.
Say you were having trouble with the final scales in the finale of Fernando Sor’s Introduction
and Variations on a Theme by Mozart op.9. The scale seven measures from the end is written
like this:
Ex. #1
- Listen to me play the original rhythm in sound clip #1. (A separate window will open that
you can minimize in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Using Samuel Sanders’ routine, we would practice it at tempo, about MM=160 for an eighth
note, or as fast as we could play it well. Then we would practice it slowly, maybe about MM=100
for an eighth note.
Then we would practice in altered rhythms. Here is one way in a long-short-short rhythmic
pattern:
Ex. #2
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #2. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Here is another version in a short-short-long rhythmic pattern:
Ex. #3
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #3. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Here is yet another possibility in a dotted rhythm:
Ex. #4
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #4. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Finally we would practice the original version at half speed, MM=80 for an eighth note.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
For another example, let’s look at Bach’s Allemande from Lute Suite I BWV 996.
Ex. #5
- Listen to me play the original rhythm in sound clip #5. (A separate window will open that
you can minimize in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Here are a few possible versions in altered rhythms. First a dotted rhythm:
Ex. #6
- Listen to me play it in sound clip 6. (A separate window will open that you can minimize in
order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Or a reverse dotted rhythm:
Ex. #7
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #7. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Or a version in 12/8:
Ex. #8
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #8. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
Let's look at Antonio Lauro’s Vals Venezolana No. 3. Measures 18-20 are written originally as:
Ex. #9
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #9. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
They could be practiced in a dotted rhythm:
Ex. #10
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #10. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Or in a reverse dotted rhythm:
Ex. #11
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #11. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
In a "short-short-long" pattern:
Ex. #12
Listen to me play it in sound clip #12. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Or in a "long, short, short" pattern:
Ex. #13
- Listen to me play it in sound clip #13. (A separate window will open that you can minimize
in order to still see the written musical example as you listen.)
Practicing in altered rhythms seems to break up muscle memory; especially old, entrenched
muscle memory that produces the same mistakes day after day, month after month, even year
after year. Although the tempo at which you practice the altered patterns doesn’t seem to be
too critical to its benefits, I would try playing the altered versions on both the slow and fast side.
I recommend using the Samuel Sanders practice routine on brand new pieces as well. It will
give you a lot more control of tricky passages and therefore help you relax during their
execution.
Remember, practice at tempo, then slow, then with altered rhythms, and finally at half speed
with a metronome. This really works. You’ve got to try it. You will be amazed by the results in
just one to two days.
You are on DouglasNiedt.com
BE SURE TO VISIT DOUG'S "SECRET VAULT"
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Doug's Dirty Little Secrets.
It contains many of Doug's Previous
Guitar Technique Tips of the Month
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
Have a comment?
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
Question?
Suggestion for the website?
We would love to hear from you.
We have a Printer Friendlier (PDF) version of this article that's also easier on the eyes.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
It's SO much easier to read a printed article than to read it from the computer screen.
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| These are my very detailed, in-depth articles and high-def videos on how to play the classical guitar. It's like getting your own private guitar lesson every month. Need info on classical guitar right hand technique? Guitar scales? How to play bar chords? Harmonics? Looking for a classical guitar practicing routine? Tips on performing onstage? How to tune a guitar? Looking for easy Christmas guitar arrangements? Chances are, I have covered it, or will soon. The tips are by subscription only. |
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over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
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A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Be a better guitar player or teacher. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.
Purchase a ONE-YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to:
DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH
Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the
Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run
over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the
production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.
A one-year subscription (12 tips) is only $24. That is only $2 per tip.