You Got Rhythm!

A comprehensive guide - read and play any rhythm in sheet music easily

What you'll learn
Gain in-depth knowledge of rhythm through playing, listening and writing rhythm which will make reading sheet music easy
Read, write and play all the note values, time signatures, syncopations, even polyrhythms
Improve your sense of rhythm by internalizing it like the pros
Improve your guitar playing, song writing or piano playing
Develop your playing skills on any instrument
Requirements
No previous knowledge of music or music theory required
No previous experience of playing rhythm required
No instrument (piano, guitar, etc.) required
Students may wish to download a free metronome app. to their phone - not compulsory
We use household objects in the course, eg. empty tin can, saucepan lid, squeaky toy. Students are encouraged to use whatever they find that will make a sound!
Description
This online music course will teach you how to read, write and play rhythms in sheet music easily. Whether you already play piano, play guitar, sing, or are thinking of learning an instrument, you’ll learn to read music faster.This music course is designed to teach you every detail of musical notation with regard to rhythm: how to read rhythm, how to write down rhythm and how to play rhythm. The value of learning rhythm separately from melody and chords will help you read the sheet music much more easily, even if you have never read a note of music before.Master these music skills to read and write down rhythm to discover your creative musical talent!While there are plenty of music courses that teach the theory behind reading music, it’s hard to find an in-depth course that focuses exclusively on rhythm like this one, which is for beginners and even advanced players that play by ear.This course is designed for all musicians that want to read sheet music and play more of the music they love.Advanced players who play exclusively by ear and want to earn more money from their music will benefit from this course.What you will learn:How to read, write and play the eight basic note valuesMaster time signatures, even 5/4How to use techniques to read and then feel syncopationRead, write and play polyrhythmsThe musical skills you’ll learn throughout this courseSight-readingHow to play in timeHow to write down your musical ideas to create better songsIndependent hands (so important for learning any instrument but particularly important for piano and drum kit)Hear a rhythm that inspires you and write it downHow to challenge yourself to play any instrument betterHow to conduct and lead a musical groupHow to practise and rehearse musicHow to bring people together through musicHow to play faster with good technique using a metronomeHow to express yourself using music.Rhythm in music is usually taught as an afterthought during music lessons. Apart from learning ‘that note is worth two’ or ‘that note is worth three’, the student is left to work out rhythm by themselves. In this comprehensive course, we cover everything there is to know about rhythm. You’ll learn the techniques professional musicians use to read and play any rhythm in sheet music confidently. You’ll waste less time during expensive music lessons asking your instructor how to play the rhythm.This course does a deep dive on rhythm. Reading the melody and chords of piano music and guitar music will be a breeze after taking this course, because you’ve already solved over half of the complexity of written music - rhythm.This course touches on a range of musical genres and styles including:Classical (eg. Mozart, Vivaldi, Tchaikovsky)Pop (eg. Beyonce, Backstreet Boys, Michael Jackson)Metal (eg. Metallica, Fear Factory, Rammstein)Jazz (eg. Brubeck)Blues (Muddy Waters)Rap (Run DMC)This is not a dry and boring music theory course. Activities include:Creating your own rap background (‘backing track’) using only what you can find in your kitchen (‘Kitchen Rap’)Write short rhythms to share in a group, such as a drumming circle or to teach the kids at homeLearn your part then rehearse and perform with a symphony orchestra (playing saucepan lids).Resources for you to download and keep include:A guide to all the note valuesA guide to the most common time signaturesA guide to dotted notesManuscript paper in several formsPractice sheets for writing down musicMusical puzzle challengeJournals to track your progress in writing and playing challenges.What instrument, software and equipment do I need?None. You may want to download a metronome app on your phone, but it’s not compulsory. We mainly use clapping, drumming on empty tin cans, even squeaky toys. That way you can internalise the feel of rhythm without the distraction of dealing with a musical instrument.Who is the instructor?I (Anne Plummer) am a musician whose entire career depends on being able to read music fluently. I wished I’d understood much earlier that there is a difference between music that is difficult to read versus music that is difficult to play. I know complexity can be with the rhythm, not the melody or chords. This course makes it easy to understand how rhythm works.If you are unsatisfied with this course, you can ask for a full refund as there is a 30 day money back guarantee: no questions asked.Reading music is a skill that will allow you to discover more of the music you love. Reading rhythm will take you on an amazing musical journey. After taking this course, you’ll pick up your instrument again and fly.I can’t wait to see you in the course!Enroll now to play more of the music you love and discover more music.Kind regards,Anne.Who this course is for:Absolute beginners (never touched an instrument or sung a note before)Self-taught piano players and guitar playersInstrumentalists that play by ear, whether amateur or professionalMusic students that have taken an online course on piano or guitar (or other instrument)Music studentsJazz players wanting to audition for formal music studyWorking musicians who want to get more gigs

Overview

Section 1: Introduction to the Course

Lecture 1 Welcome to the Course!

Section 2: Rhythm Building Blocks: Easily learn all 8 Rhythm Note Values

Lecture 2 What they look like

Lecture 3 What they sound like

Lecture 4 The shorter note values and download your Guide

Lecture 5 Walk through: Rhythm Note Values

Lecture 6 Avoid confusion: USA and UK English note names

Lecture 7 A 'beat' is not what you were taught

Section 3: Sight-read like a session musician

Lecture 8 Practice with me: Quarter Notes to Breves

Lecture 9 Musical Q&A: Let's have a musical conversation using 'Call and Response'

Lecture 10 Practice with me: Eighth Notes to 64th Notes

Section 4: Get your ideas on paper: Writing Rhythm

Lecture 11 Activity: write down rhythm note values

Lecture 12 Write down what you hear = "Aural Dictation"

Lecture 13 Challenge: The need for speed!

Lecture 14 More practice of Aural Dictation with Solutions

Section 5: How to make notes longer: Ties & Dots

Lecture 15 The Tie

Lecture 16 Dotted Notes

Lecture 17 Practise Dots & Ties 1

Lecture 18 Practise Dots & Ties 2

Lecture 19 The Great Dot & Tie Challenge!

Lecture 20 Challenge Solution 1

Lecture 21 Challenge Solution 2

Lecture 22 Challenge Solution 3

Section 6: Tempo: The speed indicators of music

Lecture 23 Speed indications in written music

Lecture 24 Think like a drummer: Subdivide 1 against 2: How to internalise

Lecture 25 How to use a metronome to play faster. Practice subdivisions

Lecture 26 Challenge: How fast can you play these subdivided beats?

Lecture 27 Faster, Slower with Musical Examples

Section 7: Team Building Using Rhythm: Demonstration

Lecture 28 The power of sharing music

Lecture 29 Playing music over the internet: challenges and solutions

Lecture 30 Zoom Music Part 1

Lecture 31 Zoom Music Part 2

Lecture 32 Zoom Music Part 3

Lecture 33 Zoom Music Part 4

Lecture 34 Creativity Challenge: Create your own Call & Response and Share

Section 8: Get in the groove with Time Signatures

Lecture 35 Download your handy Guide to Time Signatures

Lecture 36 A Deep Dive on Time Signatures

Lecture 37 Activity: Complete the Bar

Lecture 38 Your orchestra awaits, Maestro!

Lecture 39 Conduct along with me: 2 Beats in a Bar with Musical Examples

Lecture 40 Conduct 3 Beats per Measure: Practice with me using famous music

Lecture 41 Good ol' 4/4: Practice Conducting with me

Lecture 42 1 Beat in a Measure: Conduct with Musical Examples

Lecture 43 5/4: Three ways to conduct and feel 5/4

Lecture 44 Compound Meters: 12/8 versus 4/4

Lecture 45 Converting 'Feels' into Time Signatures

Lecture 46 Make your music easier to read with Musical 'Grammar'

Lecture 47 RIP the Breve;)

Section 9: Before the Downbeat: The Anacrusis

Lecture 48 What's an Anacrusis?

Lecture 49 From Mozart to Muddy Waters: Interactive Anacrusis Quiz

Section 10: Those 5 lines: Music Manuscript

Lecture 50 Intro to the Stave/Staff

Lecture 51 What is a 'System' in written music?

Section 11: How to read silence with Note Rests and Bars' Rest

Lecture 52 When NOT to play: Bars Rest and Cues

Lecture 53 Activity: Count how many bars rest

Lecture 54 Solution: Count how many bars rest

Lecture 55 Activity: Count 63 Bars then drum!

Lecture 56 Rehearsal: Play Saucepan Lids with an Orchestra!

Lecture 57 Performance: Also Sprach Zarathustra with Saucepan Lids

Section 12: Play duplets, triplets, septuplets, etc.

Lecture 58 Play duplets, triplets, etc.

Section 13: Syncopation: Easy to play, harder to read

Lecture 59 Section Introduction - Syncopation

Lecture 60 Textbook definition of Syncopation

Lecture 61 Interpretation of Syncopation

Lecture 62 Technique 1 Write it out

Lecture 63 Technique 2 Augment the Note Values

Lecture 64 Technique 3 Add in the Ties

Lecture 65 Technique 4 Add in the Beats

Lecture 66 Activity: Deja Vu Rehearsal

Lecture 67 Activity: Deja Vu Clap Along

Lecture 68 Case Study: Beat It opening riff

Lecture 69 Beginner Guitarists: Written Strumming Patterns

Lecture 70 Beginner Guitarists: Syncopation

Lecture 71 Revision: Syncopation Reading Techniques

Section 14: Finding your way around sheet music

Lecture 72 Section Introduction: Maps

Lecture 73 Repeat sign

Lecture 74 First, Second and Third Time Bars

Lecture 75 Da Capo and DC al Fine

Lecture 76 Dal Segno (DS)

Lecture 77 Coda sign

Lecture 78 Mozart Case Study: talk through

Lecture 79 Mozart Case Study: read through

Lecture 80 Radetzky March Case Study: talk through

Lecture 81 Radetzky March Case Study: play through

Lecture 82 Backstreet Boys Case Study: talk through

Lecture 83 Backstreet Boys Case Study: read through

Section 15: Creative Project: Kitchen Rap

Lecture 84 Section Intro: why create a rap accompaniment?

Lecture 85 Part 1 from concept to score

Lecture 86 Part 2 orchestration, instrumentation, rehearsal and performance

Section 16: Polyrhythms

Lecture 87 Section Intro: Polyrhythms

Lecture 88 3 Against 2: How to write

Lecture 89 3 Against 2: How to internalise

Lecture 90 3 Against 2: Metronome challenge

Lecture 91 4 Against 3: How to write

Lecture 92 4 Against 3: How to play

Lecture 93 5 Against 4: How to write

Lecture 94 5 Against 4 How to play

Lecture 95 5 Against 2: How to write and play

Lecture 96 Polyrhythms versus Polymeters

Section 17: Musical Expression, Style and Miscellaneous

Lecture 97 Section Intro: Expression, Style and Miscellaneous

Lecture 98 Dynamics = Louds and Softs

Lecture 99 Articulation = musical texture

Lecture 100 Swing Style

Lecture 101 Double-dotting

Lecture 102 Pause Sign = Fermata

Lecture 103 Beware! General Pause

Lecture 104 The Repeat Measure/Bar sign

Lecture 105 Attacca and Segue

Lecture 106 Tacet

Lecture 107 Rehearsal Letters and Bar Numbers

Lecture 108 V.S. = VERY SOON!

Section 18: Conclusion

Lecture 109 Conclusion to the Course

Beginner musicians wanting to take their music to the next level