Hi again, everyone. I am probably being very obtuse. Having established that four semiquavers is tikatika, what do you say for demi-semiquavers. I am looking at Tango 111 Argentine in the second bar where I have a semi-quaver rest and then two demi-semiquavers and two semi-quavers. Actually what would it be for one semi-quaver as in the rhythm in the penultimate bar, where it has one semi-quaver, a quaver and then a semi-quaver. I am just wondering how teachers teach their pupils those kind of rhythms and how to work them out for themselves rather than simply copying what the teacher does. Thanks.

I've not heard of this tikatika stuff - it sounds like an Indian delicacy

I learned this a short while ago actually (I think this is the same one... it was c:3 in Grade 3, 2003-2004 - I got hold of a load of old books to try to help my sight reading )... it's not that bad... Despite it being 2/4 I just count 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + for it (with each number and "+" being a semiquaver beat)

so in the second bar, on the + after 1, it's just 2 notes in the time of the +

so... (r=rest)



same in bar 4, 8 etc...
hope this makes some sort of sense.. I'm not great at explaining things :S

Must admit bar 25 bass caught me out at first

EDIT: When I'm *really* stuck with reading a certain bar of something I get some manuscript paper and write it out in an easier time to read (eg: 4/2 instead of 4/4), then go back to the original - for some reason this helps a lot.

I'd tend to double the note length first (or at least go slowly enough so that you can count that way) then speed up once I've got the general feeling of it.

Brilliant. Thank you both for answering. Yes, it is the grade 3 piece. I shall now print off your answers.

Cool - oops I just edited my post as RH and LH were wrong way round Good luck... this is quite an interesting piece rhythm wise. The suggested fingering is fine too although it seems odd at first, definitely there for a reason