Hi!

I have already written two posts in one of these forums, and I am very happy to have found this comunity on Internet.

As I mentioned, I am returning to Piano after 10 years. I am 28 now, and I left music when I started studiying at the University. Now I am not able to play nothing, but I did not learn that much 10 years ago

I have already an E-Piano, and the next week I will start lessons with a teacher. But I also have a book with an Adult Method, and I am trying to practice a little before my first lesson.. trying to remember as much as possible.

I still can read music, I remember most of the chords, but my fingers are still very frozen, so to say. The problem that I see, and that I have also before, is the rithm.

I do not know if it is a problem with my ear, or if it is question of practice..

I would like to ask if it is possible to improve the rithm ear, or I will have all the time to deal with my current poor perception of the rithm.

Thanks a lot.

Rythm can defenetly improve.

The best way is to practice with metronome and to count while playing. For begginer, or someone who is restarting it's recomended to count loud.

But don't worry, your teacher will tell you everything...

Good luck

As GreenRain said, Rhythm can improve...it is a learned skill just as reading music is a learned skill. Some people are inherently better at it than others, but you can learn.

The key is to practice with a steady rhythm, which a metronome or a drum machine can provide. As you internalize that perfect rhythm or tempo, you will then play very close to it later without the metronome because you have learned from a pure standard.

Make sure your teacher incorporates rhythm training early on in your lessons.

I think one way to understand rhythm is to try to find music that you are familiar with and get the sheet music. Then, you can read along as you listen to the music.

I used this approach personally -- sometimes I feel that it isn't always enough to count for yourself; it is necessary to find a concrete example sometimes.

Good luck!

I'm very new to piano, but did play the flute for 5 years and the guitar for 2 when I was in school. And something I've always found that helps with rhythm is to get used to tapping your foot and/or counting in your head when you hear music. Just listening to the radio or mp3 player or a cd of your favorite music. Try to find the beat and then count the measures, after awhile your body rhythm just tunes into it. Good luck.

Many thanks for the answers!

I am using a metronome, and I can follow it, but once I stop the metronome, I loss the confidence.. I will the it to my teacher to get practices on rithm from the beggining if possible.

Thanks again!

I know what you mean. I also have problems with rythm.

I suggest you to play piece in the same tempo, and with a lot of practice you will be able to speed it up or slow it down without "loosing tempo"

And also do not use metronome too much (Don't practise with it all the time)


BARBVA- Tapping with your foot is OK, but it's not nice if it becomes habit.

YES YES YES!!!

You can improve your rhythm. I am the poster child for this.

I do alot of my rhythm work away from the piano. It has helped tremendously. I have only been doing this for a few weeks and my teacher said the difference is like night and day.

I understood rhythm in theory like two eight notes equal a quarter note and time signatures etc. So, if you understand I will tell you what I did that helped.

I have a book that had only lines of rhythm. I set the metronome and I say Ta (and tap) to the rhythm - if I mess up I start over. then I will jump back and forth from different measures so I get used to have to deciphering the rythm quickly and don't accidentally memorize something.
At my next lesson I will demonstrate this for my teacher with the metronome and we do this at different speeds. This has helped me so much. I pulled out and old peice of music that I used to think was confusing and now it makes sense and I was able to play it.

This is the book I use-I don't know if it is the best one out there but I found it helpful. http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Reading-Rhythms-Workbook-Instruments/dp/0793573793/ref=pd_sim_b_2

This is another book someone recommended to me
http://www.amazon.com/Sight-Read-Rhythm-Instantly-Mark-Phillips/dp/1575605155/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b

Good luck and keep us updated.