Keeping A Steady Pulse When Playing Options

[nicki_flute]

I have various strengths in flute playing, but I have one major weakness, I find it really hard to keep a steady tempo, I tend to go faster and faster. I am better than I was, but any tips for keeping a steady pulse, especially in sight reading etc?

I feel stupid though - I've been playing for years, I should be able to do this!

Thanks!

[rosfrog]

I have various strengths in flute playing, but I have one major weakness, I find it really hard to keep a steady tempo, I tend to go faster and faster. I am better than I was, but any tips for keeping a steady pulse, especially in sight reading etc?

Thanks!

This is kind of an off the wall piece of advice but try 'not' doing some things you already do - for example, how do you count? I used to speed up on the violin until I learned that I was tapping my foot on the minim of a four bar and that I had a very sympathetic foot - slowing down when I got to hard bits and speeding up in the easy bits - all the while I was convinced I was keeping a good beat!

Seriously, though, if you can work with a metronome and really work on making the notes you play represent the rhythm, you'll find it will slowly improve. Do you sing your pieces in solfa sometimes before playing them? Doing this with a metronome will help loads with developing that feel of a regular pulse.

Otherwise try playing along with other instrumentalists - if you have a piano playing friend, this will be really helpful.

Allan

[nicki_flute]

Thanks for your reply.

I currently tap my foot, but my teacher's banned me from doing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

The problem is, I can play the rhythm and notes fine, just can't keep it at a steady pace.

I'm afraid I am the most novice anyone could be at solfege! Once had a quick lesson in it by Cyrilla and Bagpuss, but am not fluent in the slightest.

I can play better when I am in groups as it helps me keep the beat. I suppose it is just playing unaccompanied really.

[Frederic Chopin]

The problem is, I can play the rhythm and notes fine, just can't keep it at a steady pace.

As far as I know, the best way for you to develop a steady pace is to play with the metronome regularly and when you go out of sync, stop and analyse why. It may be that you tend to rush with certain note values, long notes etc. Hope this helps.

Tapping with your foot won't help if you tend to have an erratic tempo - not recommended! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[andante_in_c]

If semiquavers tend to run away with you (eg in the Bach you're playing at the moment), lean very slightly on the first one of each group of four. This will stop the rest getting faster. If you use a metronome, set it to quaver speed first of all to give yourself as much help as possible. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Louigi]

I use to spend up all the times until I learn to use the metronome more often. Good luck

[Cyrilla]

If you EVER get a chance to do some Dalcroze, Nicki, this will really help as you will be moving to the pulse with large motor movements, which helps so much to internalise a steady pulse.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[nicki_flute]

If semiquavers tend to run away with you (eg in the Bach you're playing at the moment), lean very slightly on the first one of each group of four. This will stop the rest getting faster. If you use a metronome, set it to quaver speed first of all to give yourself as much help as possible. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

It's not that I do the semiquavers quicker than they should, just generally EVERYTHING in anything just gets faster

If you EVER get a chance to do some Dalcroze, Nicki, this will really help as you will be moving to the pulse with large motor movements, which helps so much to internalise a steady pulse.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks - I'll bear that in mind.

I should be able to do this, grr.

[neil.clarinet]

To correct dodgy rhythms, I find it helpful to sing the rhythms using the their symbol names, ie ta for crotchet, ti for quaver, ti-ka-ti-ka for semiquavers, tim-ka for dotted-semi. So the Bach would be ti ta ta ti-ka-ti-ka ti-ka-ti-ka etc. Emphasise the first of each group to keep it firmly in your head. Remember rhythm is felt not mentally generated. Try it without the tune. Metronomes are of course a helpful tool as well.

[nicki_flute]

Thanks Neil (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Amber]

I currently tap my foot, but my teacher's banned me from doing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I tend to wiggle the toes on my right foot to keep in time. This was a problem in my recent concerts though because it meant I couldn't wear strappy sandals! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Amber
x

[nicki_flute]

I currently tap my foot, but my teacher's banned me from doing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

I tend to wiggle the toes on my right foot to keep in time. This was a problem in my recent concerts though because it meant I couldn't wear strappy sandals! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Amber
x

Oh no!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I tap my foot without noticing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[sarah-flute]

If you EVER get a chance to do some Dalcroze, Nicki, this will really help as you will be moving to the pulse with large motor movements, which helps so much to internalise a steady pulse. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks - I'll bear that in mind.

Even a do-it-yourself version of this can help. Hum your pieces as you are walking steadily, or march around the room - move to the beat till you feel it.

[chocolatedog]

Thanks for your reply.

I currently tap my foot, but my teacher's banned me from doing it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

The problem is, I can play the rhythm and notes fine, just can't keep it at a steady pace.

I'm afraid I am the most novice anyone could be at solfege! Once had a quick lesson in it by Cyrilla and Bagpuss, but am not fluent in the slightest.

I can play better when I am in groups as it helps me keep the beat. I suppose it is just playing unaccompanied really.

Play with a metronome - yes, I know other folks have already said it, but it does help......sometimes you find you've slowed down/speeded up, but can't spot exactly where it's happening. A metronome will help to pinpoint exactly where you're starting to speed up - maybe you're changing from flowing semiquavers to steady crotchets, but the crotchets are fractionally too fast (that's just a possible example, as I've noticed it happens a lot with my pupils) - going from a shorter to a longer note value, the longer one sometimes gets shortened slightly as the brain gets a bit confused, and vice versa, changing from crotchets to quavers or semiquavers, the note value may not be exactly half or quarter the length of the crotchet.

[loops]

I find it really hard to keep a steady tempo, I tend to go faster and faster.

snap! It's because I get excited (sometimes anxious).
My teacher told me that trying to get me to play with a steady speed
was like taking a large dog for a walk and needing to pull back
on the leash all the time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) ( (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )
It felt to me like steady pulse was kind of plodding along being
really boring.
so I tried the following
One was to use a metronome so I could see exactly where I
started to race (for the bach invention, I got to the end of
every bar before the metronome!!!! well, Bach excites me)
Two was to think about conveying my excitement without
speed, conversely being "cool". And maybe thinking about
relaxing my hands in between every note/hand position.

I got the Bach invention sorted simply by calming down in the end.

(Only really gifted and talented people have this problem!! sorry, couildn't resist (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )