Recommended Reading
One of the most important aspects of music making has to do with the sense of time or commonly none has pulse as well! I pay particular attention to that side and give my students different tips and tricks to achieve that. Different musical idioms require different "time feel".
Example: in rock, soul and most modern music since the 60s the accentuation within a bar has been on the 1st and 3rd beat (not to be confused with the snare drum that generally plays on the 2nd and 4th beat, it's called the back beat, ironically it is generally the loudest sound but still the strong beats remains the 1st and the 3rd). Generally most people seem to be quite at ease with that since it is what most people have been listening for the last 50 years.
On the contrary in most pre 60s popular music the accentuation is on the 2nd and 4th beat of the bar: that is what creates what is commonly called the "swing feel" found in most types of jazz music, blues, etc.
It is very important for the students to understand those differences if let's say they wish to play a jazz standard or a blues number. If they don't, they will never be able to "swing" and therefore the whole purpose of the music falls apart. Trust me, I have met an incalculable number of students who just couldn't feel the 2 and 4 and therefore couldn't swing and where very frustated about it.
With simple exercises anyone can sort that out if indeed something doesn't "feel" right, and finally enjoy playing what is probably one of the most rewarding type of music out there. Music that swings!!
All the best and keep swinging!
