Hello

This lesson is going to build on the material I sent you two weeks ago - that is, how to develop your sense of timing and rhythm.

I actually think that the best way to work on this is through movement. Once you feelthe vibration of sound in your body, you have developed a kinesthetic connection to the music. Does this make sense?

We're going to go through an exercises to build that internal clock or metronome without even using a metronome!

So here is a great exercise. Turn your radio on at home or you can use your ipod or CD player. Now I want you to walk around the room to the beat of the song that is playing. Walk deliberately, feeling the beat in your legs and torso. If you don't have much room, just walk to the beat and march in place. Once you feel that you are with the beat, try walking twice as fast. Take two steps for every one step you were taking before. If this is too hard or you really feel you are not with the beat anymore, go back to walking with one step per beat. Don't listen to the entire song, but change the track or change stations and do the same thing with another song.

I have a variation on this if you want to practice your rhythm while driving. Turn on the radio and just tap the beat on the steering wheel (please don't use your right foot!). The key here is to keep changing the song so you are constantly challenged to find the new beat.

Working on the transcription of the Antje Duvekot interview. I've got another fascinating person I will be interviewing tomorrow night. Her name is Dr. Celia Im and she used to teach piano at The Peabody Conservatory, one of the most prestigious music schools in the country. She has left there now and has started her own company using music to "Light the Creative Spark". Click on this link to learn more about Dr. Im.

Dr. Celia Im