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66 KARL MERZ' PIANO METHOD.

SYNCOPATION.
Tbii rhythmical irregularity, if BO it may be called, often occurs in music. Wlien a musical sound, Commencing upon
light time is held over into heavy time, it is called Syncopation. In the following example this is illustrated:

In a like manner chords may be Syncopated

H
"With notes of smaller value, Syncopation becomes
:

more difficult, as may


m
be seen from this-

i**
.
r i

*
i ^^ *

There are four quarters in this measure. The note on the first beat is but an eighth note, consequently before we count
two the second note must be struck. To the second half of the second note we count two. This half, together with the
first eighth of the third note constitutes the second quarter of the measure. To the second half of the third note, we count
three. It and the first half of the fourth note, constitute the-third To the second half of this note we count four,
quarter.
and adding to the last eighth of the measure we obtain the fourth
it
quarter. To illustrate this lesson we will write it out
in tied notes. Let the pupil first play it as below and then as above.

^ * *

The teacher must be careful that the pupil has a correct mathematical
comprehension of this division of time, for syn-
copation occurs frequently, and unless it is
thoroughly understood, will be a continuous source of trouble both to teacher
and pupil.

Exercise.
1 234
KARL
68 KARL MERZ' PIANO METHOD.
54
-0 9-

3^ I
^f-

5 4
3 a

z
KARL MERZ' PIANO METHOD. 69

a i 33 3

4 1 143

2 a

52 83

a 4 S 4 3 4 5
i a a ia

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