Rhythm reading for sight-readers
Counting out loud, subdivision and keeping the pulse when the notes get hard.
Key points
- Count out loud, including rests.
- Subdivide before you start: '1-and-2-and'.
- A wrong note in time beats a right note late.
Most sight-reading breakdowns are rhythmic, not notes. If the rhythm is secure, a wrong note passes by; if the rhythm collapses, the piece stops.
Count out loud
Use one counting system consistently. A common one in 4/4: "1 2 3 4" for crotchets, "1 & 2 &" for quavers, "1 e & a" for semiquavers. Say it aloud while you clap or play, at least for the first month.
Feel the subdivision
Before playing a passage with quavers, count the whole bar in quavers ("1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &"). Dotted rhythms are much easier when the smaller unit is already ticking in your head.
Patterns to know on sight
| Pattern | Count (in 4/4) |
|---|---|
| Two quavers | "1 &" |
| Dotted crotchet + quaver | "1 (2) &" — the short note is on the "&" of 2 |
| Quaver, crotchet, quaver (syncopation) | "1 & (2) &" |
| Four semiquavers | "1 e & a" |
| Triplet quavers | "1-trip-let" |
Rests and ties
Rests are counted exactly like notes. Lift your hand on a rest so it is visible as well as audible. For ties, count the full combined value and do not re-strike the second note.
Daily rhythm exercise (2 minutes)
- Take one line of any piece you have not played.
- Set a metronome at a slow tempo.
- Clap the rhythm while counting aloud. No stops.
- Then tap left hand on your left knee and right hand on your right knee, together.
