Learning Ukulele with Curt

Rhythm, Avoid at Your Own Peril

The Often Neglected and Taken For Granted Subject of Rhythm

Published: 04 Jan 2022 Updated: 11 Mar 2022Visits: 2Code: UW-RHYTHM

Category: RhythmInstrument: Music Subjects: Rhythm • Music

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Rhythm, Avoid at Your Own Peril

The often neglected and taken for granted subject of Rhythm. Music is Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm. We are drawn, initially to music by melody at a very early age, with the instrument of our voice. With ukulele you typically learn chords - the harmony and never really dive into learning rhythm. Unless you're a drummer we take rhythm for granted.

Rhythm has traditionally been taught as a function of math, particularly fractions. Though accurate, this approach has missed one of the most fundamental facts of rhythm. Rhythm is a language and is, as such, phonetic not mathematical. The average student exposed to the math orientation of rhythm has rarely absorbed the essence of rhythm and rarely even becomes proficient at reading rhythm. This often becomes a lifetime barrier to the developing musician.

In this s workshop we'll learn rhythm, just as we learned how to talk. No more counting beats.

There is a strong correlation between the ability to spell and strong fundamentals in phonics. Phonetic skills allow us to “sound out” words, even words that we’ve never seen before! We understand the principle of sound as it applies to phonetic combinations. The "sight" of the letter combination triggers a reflexive "sound"; reaction. If rhythm could be broken down into phonetic units, then rhythm would become an easily recognized aural language.

This workshop covers:

  • The core four levels of how any give beat can be subdivided. And the Rhythmic Syllables that are created.
  • Apply this the strumming and fingerpicking on the ukulele.
  • Learn just what the famous jazz trumpeter meant when he said he Thinks in rhythm.

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The videos for the Rhythm, Avoid at Your Own Peril workshop held Coming Q2 2025 are now available.

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