Everything Piano

The Importance of Rhythm in Piano

What is Rhythm?

By definition, rhythm is the variation of the length and accentuation of a series of sounds. In plain English, that means the framework of repetitive timing in music.

Many piano players who struggle with rhythm believe that only gifted musicians can truly master the aspect of rhythm in music. In reality, establishing the correct rhythm in music is merely dependent on accurate counting and reading music.

Rhythm can be difficult to master because it’s indications are not shown throughout the entire piece, such as the time signature, which is only shown at the beginning of the piece or passage. Another indication would be the difference between a sonata and a prelude.

And so, music is created by manipulating these rhythmic attributes, making rhythm one of the most important and essential elements in music.

I, personally, have struggled with rhythm for my entire musical life. Difficulties in achieving rhythm are directly related to reading music wrong. For me and many others, this is often the case when I begin reading and playing the music with both hands. There is simply too much information to process, too much hand-eye coordination, too many notes to figure out, and rhythm gets left behind.

I experienced this problem mostly with sight reading. When I had to play a passage on command, my rhythm was a disaster. I was too preoccupied with getting the notes right and coordinating my right and left hands.

Elise’s Musical Tip For The Day:

If you find yourself struggling with rhythm in your pieces, I would advise you to purchase a metronome. A metronome is a ticking pendulum that leads you through the exact tempo of a music piece. Just set the ticking speed of the metronome to the speed indicated on the sheet music, or if there is no indication, just find a speed that you feel comfortable with. Personally, I recommend the Korg MA-30 Ultra Compact Digital Metronome. I have this one, and it works great. It’s easy to use, stands up on a little stand, and you can even plug headphones into it. It’s definitely worth the investment if you want to improve your rhythm skills for your favourite pieces. You’ll sound just like a pro.