Rhythm: The Most Important Element of Music!Back to basics: the important of rhythmIn this video, Robert talks about rhythm and its importance in music making. Released on April 7, 2021 DISCLAIMER: The views and the opinions expressed in this video are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Virtual Sheet Music and its employees. Video TranscriptionYou're watching LivingPianos.com and I'm Robert Estrin. Today's subject is the most important element of music, most important element of music is rhythm. Rhythm and you might think what about the notes? Well, sometimes I describe it this way. Let's say there was a party and you knew where the party was. You knew what it was about, it was a birthday party. You know who it was for. It was for your friend. You knew everything about this. You knew whether you're supposed to bring presents or not, what they liked, what your activities were going to be but if you don't know when that party is, guess what? No party. You need to know the when. It's perhaps the most important element of music, is rhythm. I can demonstrate that for you in a very simple fashion. I'm going to play a very famous piece with no rhythm. I'm just going to play all the notes equally and see if you can identify what it is. You may be able to only because it's Uber famous, but listen to it and how drastically different this sounds without the rhythmic component. Now, many of you probably got that. What was it? Same exact notes with a rhythmic context and it's an entirely different ballgame. Rhythm is so intrinsically important. Pitch of course is important, texture. There are many elements that are important, but without rhythm, what do you have? You really have nothing unless you put it in some context of time and it's really human nature because our entire experience is based upon the element of time. We go through life in a linear fashion after all, moment to moment. It's the way we relate to everything and once you take rhythm out of the equation, I mean, you could play all the notes of a piece. There they are. It's meaningless, if you don't have a rhythmic context, they come in one order after the other, in certain amount of time. So that's why it's so vitally important in your practice to count out your rhythm. Composers weren't haphazard about rhythm, note rhythmic notation. Things were written precisely for a reason, because as you could hear in that first example, a drastic example, without the rhythm, Beethoven's Fifth Symphony doesn't sound like much of anything does it, and this is true of all your music. I encourage all of you in your practice to count carefully in rhythm, measure your rhythm with a metronome and double and triple check the note values because that's what brings music alive and give it its meaning. I know this is a short video for you, but such an important topic and I'm curious how all of you feel about that and how many of you got the musical example right off the bat, and how many of you were surprised at that? That was the most famous piece. One of the most famous pieces in the world. Again, I'm Robert Estrin. This is LivingPianos.com. Your online piano resource. Thank you for subscribing. Ring the bell and thumbs up. It makes YouTube algorithm share this with other people. I'd love everybody to be able to enjoy the piano and music as much as you do for tuning in which I thank you for. We'll see you next time. Find the original source of this video at this link: https://livingpianos.com/rhythm-the-most-important-element-of-music/ Automatic video-to-text transcription by DaDaScribe.com Comments, Questions, Requests: Steve Borcich * VSM MEMBER * on April 10, 2021 @11:19 am PST
That is absolutely true, Robert! Years ago my friend Willie and I went to hear jazz flutist Dave Valentin (who sadly passed away) at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. He was not playing with his regular trio and was playing Latin jazz. Willie commented that he rhythm was playing the rhythm wrong and that they were straight ahead jazz musicians, not Latin jazz musicians. I asked him what he meant by this. He pointed out that in Latin jazz you're pushing the beat, as in rock and roll. In straight ahead or traditional jazz you're laying back on the beat. That's what makes it difficult to get the rhythmic feel in jazz. Most musicians have a tendency to "rush" the beat. You have to discipline yourself not to do this. If any jazz musicians are reading my comments feel free to add to them!
 Robert Estrin - host, on April 11, 2021 @9:16 am PST
In jazz and other music with Afro-Latin roots, the feel of the beat is another essential element. This is also true in many Classical styles, particularly those which are based upon dance rhythms such as Waltzes, Minuets, Mazurkas, Polonaises and others. Those are all examples of music written in 3. Yet they all have completely different rhythmic feels.
Steve Borcich * VSM MEMBER * on April 9, 2021 @11:39 am PST
As usual you gave a great demonstration of rhythm and its importance in music. It reminded me of when my friend was playing a famous swing era tune called "Limehouse Blues" on alto sax. It took me awhile to figure out what he was playing because his rhythm was off!
JJK * VSM MEMBER * on April 9, 2021 @7:09 am PST
Love your example of the party!
Also, Beethoven’s Fifth—I didn’t get it without the rhythm! Would you agree that the importance of rhythm is why, when beginning music education with young children, it is essential to highlight and develop their rhythmic sense from the outset, (and tap into their intrinsic love of movement to do so)? As always, thx for another succinct video! Display more comments... (5 more)
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