Rhythm is defined as movement with a regular repetition of a beat, accent, rise and fall, or the like. In music it is the combining of notes into patterns. When you understand rhythm and the music should be counted, then reading piano sheets becomes easier and your playing is more musical.

This diagram has two crotchets and a minim in different patterns which adds up to 4 counts, thus creating a rhythm. The line between the groupings is a bar line.

You met the time signature before in the Musical Terminology section. This tells you how many beats or counts there are in the bar or measure and hence an indication of the counting you do. It tells you to start the count at 1 and count upwards until you meet a bar line. The counting starts at 1 again after the bar line.

In this example there are four beats in a bar and hence you do repetitions of the rocket piano counting 1 2 3 4 .

You need to count at a steady, even pace. Imagine marching girls keeping that even pulse going when they march.

Exercises:
1. Clap and count 4 bars of crotchets ( one count note ) using a time signature of
4
4
Make count 1 and stronger beat ie clap more loudly.

It would go like this: 1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4 //

2. Clap and count the two bars given in the example. You have to put the counts underneath the notes. For long notes you move your closed hands for each count or beat.

3. You can now play these two rhythms on the piano using one note.

4. If you feel like being creative, try playing different notes using the given rhythms. You now have a little composition.

Please note that this is one way of composing pianoforall review music.

Take a look at this example.

Exercise:
1. Clap and count this rhythm.
2. Play this rhythm on one note.
3. Play this rhythm on different notes. Wow, another composition!

Remember to count 1 2 3 4 / 1 2 3 4 etc with an even beat.

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