Re: [Harp-L] solid time

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Nothing wrong with playing with drum tracks, but I suggested a metronome because it's harder (big spaces between the beats without a hi-hat or cymbal marking 8th notes or whatever) and that (in my view) is better training, makes your brain do the subdivisions. By comparison, playing with drum tracks is easy, and I would say less beneficial.

- Slim.

On Apr 4, 2014, at 3:45 PM, Music Cal wrote:

> "The more discouraging it is to play with a metronome, the more you need to do it. Do it until it's easy." 
> 
> 
> That sounds like some solid advice! 
> 
> But ... I have heard others discourage playing with a metronome and instead encourage playing with repetitive drum tracks. Since I have neglected doing either then either would probably be of value. Hmm ... I will have to see if I can find a bunch of drum tracks in different tempos and types of rhythms. (Probably someone will tell me that the Iphone has an app for that. But I am resisting getting a smart phone.) 
> 
> 
> 
> On Fri, Apr 4, 2014 at 3:06 PM, Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Not sure I fit your "rock solid" classification, but I think my timing's reasonably good.
> 
> It's important to not sound like a machine in most styles of music, and especially so in jazz, so "rock solid" is a questionable term here. But to play well, you need to know exactly where the beat is so you can phrase around it appropriately and at the same time not sound like you're dragging, rushing, or manic. IOW, you should be capable of sounding like a machine, but not actually do that.
> 
> To improve my timing (i.e. knowing exactly where the beat is) I work with a metronome -- not to be confused with playing _like_ a metronome. If it sounds to you like the metronome is speeding up or slowing down, it's a strong clue that it's you who are slowing down or speeding up and you need to fix that. The more discouraging it is to play with a metronome, the more you need to do it. Do it until it's easy.
> 
> Hope this helps...
> 
> - Slim.
> 
> www.SlideManSlim.com
> 
> 
> 
> On Apr 4, 2014, at 2:31 PM, Music Cal wrote:
> 
> > This is a question for the jazz players amongst us with rock solid timing.
> >
> > What have you done to develop your timing?
> >
> > (Hi Jon)
> 
>