You got the beat! Improve your sense of rhythm

Name: You got the beat! Improve your sense of rhythm
Rating: 3.9 (12 reviews)

Play in time - on any instrument!

Created byAnne Plummer

Last updated 3/2025

English

What you'll learn

Subdivide the beat to keep in time using Eighth Notes and Sixteenth Notes
Use time signatures to 'feel' the beat and stay in time
Internalize the beat to keep you on track, even during silences
Two-part rhythms including polyrhythms to keep the beat steady
You’ll be sight-reading, clapping, drumming and conducting along with me!

Course content

8 sections • 19 lectures • 54m total length

Welcome to the Course!0:47
How I can help you improve your sense of rhythm in this course3:08

Your orchestra is waiting, Maestro!1:28
Conducting music is a useful communication tool which helps you feel the music. Conducting also expresses time signatures.
Two beats per measure with musical examples2:24
Conducting music is a useful communication tool which helps you feel the music. Conducting also expresses time signatures.
Musical examples:
Radetzky March by Johann Strauss, Snr.
Toreador Song from Carmen by Bizet
William Tell Overture by Rossini
Three Beats per bar with musical examples3:11
Conducting three beats per measure we use a triangle shape.
Musical examples you'll be conducting:
Gymnopedie No. 1 by Eric Satie
Scarborough Fair - traditional, performed by Simon and Garfunkle
Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner
Four Beats per measure with musical examples1:26

Subdivide the Beat in 25:33
Subdivide the Beat in 43:10
Subdivide the Beat in 4: another approach3:30
In this lesson, you'll learn to subdivide the beat into four equal parts. Subdividing the beat helps you to play in time because the shorter notes will keep the longer notes in time.
Subdividing in music is a rhythm skill that has to be internalized which I'll show you how to do. We'll get softer and softer until the only sound left is the rhythm in your head.
Subdividing the beat is like having a 'click track' or metronome in your head. In other words, it's a silent skill that only you can hear.
You'll be playing a two-part rhythm with me. You'll also be practising 'independent hands' which is so important for playing any musical instrument.
Subdivide the Beat in 32:37
Now I'll show you how to subdivide the rhythm into 3 using the same method as the previous lesson.
Why Subdivide?

Feeling strong and weak beats3:18
In this lesson, you'll learn how to accent the first beat in the bar of a time signature
3/4 and 6/8 Time Signatures4:11
In this lesson, you'll learn the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time signatures.
3/4 is a 'simple' time signature, while 6/8 is a 'compound' time signature.
I'll show you how to use accents to make the distinction between the two different time signatures.
Then we'll play alternating bars of 3/4 and 6/8, which makes a great rhythm.
Dealing with Silences4:28
In this lesson, you'll learn how to keep the beat going in your head, even if there is no music.
You don't need to have a drum - you can just use the table if you wish.
We also cover the 3/4 time signature and the repeat sign.

Requirements

NO prior ability to read music
NO previous knowledge of music or music theory
You don't even need a piano, guitar or music software!

Description

You’re here because you want to improve your playing, improve your sense of rhythm.

If you’re just getting started with playing piano, playing guitar or playing drums, this course will add to your musicianship.

By the end of this course, you will have improved your sense of rhythm and will have skills to take your music wherever you want to go.

You’ll be sight-reading, clapping, drumming, conducting (yes, you’ll be conducting an orchestra!) and playing polyrhythms with me.

This course will give you the musical skills professional musicians use to improve their sense of rhythm.

I’ll teach you step-by-step.

If you’re a seasoned musician already, you might like to use this course as a refresher. Or skip to the end, where we learn to play a two-part polyrhythm.

One of the features of this course is that you don’t need any equipment or even an instrument because we’ll be using things from around the house or just clapping to practice rhythm and staying on the beat.

I’ve kept it SIMPLE so you’ll learn how to improve your sense of rhythm FAST and without distraction. Then you can easily take this knowledge and apply it to your own instrument - any instrument!

I can't wait to see you in the course!

Kind regards,

Anne.

Who this course is for:

Beginner musicians who want to improve their sense of rhythm
Piano players, guitarists or drummers who struggle to play in time

You got the beat! Improve your sense of rhythm

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction2 lectures • 4min

Improving 'feel' by internalising Time Signatures4 lectures • 8min

Beat accuracy using Subdividing4 lectures • 15min

Playing and feeling the pulse3 lectures • 12min

Use Polyrhythms for sense of rhythm1 lecture • 4min

Using a Metronome1 lecture • 2min

Test your sense of rhythm2 lectures • 8min

Congratulations! You've completed the course.2 lectures • 1min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: