Chapter II

Body & Rhythm

Aaron demonstrates a series of exercises that will help connect
your body to the rhythms you use while playing through the
form of a tune or improvising over it.
 Body & Rhythm - Overview Ch. 2, pg.14

Body
&
Rhythm

Aaron uses a few different physical exercises to create a

“Rhather than making connection between his body and rhythm. For him, the
connection between body and rhythm is what makes the
the rhythm, you’re music feel alive. In the beginning of this chapter, he
joining the rhythm.” demonstrates how one of his main piano teachers, Sophia
Rosoff, taught him to create this conneciton. Aaron shows
how you can tap at the left hand rhythm with both hands
on the lid of the piano and tap out the left hand rhythm
with his feet. After going through the song form a few
times this way, Aaron explains that there is an immediate
feeling of connection to the rhythm. Rather than playing
the rhythm, you’re joining the rhythm as if it was a flowing
river that you jump into to be carried away.

Another exercise
e is to play solo lines in your right hand
on the keyboard and tap out the accompanying rhythm with
your left hand above the keyboard. After doing that, you
can join your right hand. You will also notice how this will
help you to begin playing rhythms organically with your
left hand. You can then switch and play the accompanying
rhythms on your left hand tapping out your solo rhythms
with the right hand.

Aaron also mentions that although the metronome can be

useful, one should strive to create a human feeling with the
pulse where there is a feeling of give-and-take. That’s why
Aaron likes to change where his lines line up on the grid
in terms of whether that is in the back of the beat, the front,
or right in the center.

Elite Music Mentor

 Rhythm Embodiment Part I Ch. 2, pg.15

Body
&
Rhythm
RHYTHM EMBODIMENT PART I

• Close the lid of the piano and tap out the rhythm of
the melody
• With your feet, tap out the accompanying rhythm
• Jump on board with the rhythm, let yourself discover
rhythms that you wouldn’t normally use through this
exercise
• E
Eventually, open the lid of the piano and add the notes,
continue to let the rhythm flow

Refer to the next section for transcriptions.

Elite Music Mentor

 Rhythm Embodiment Part I Ch. 2, pg.16

Rhythm Embodiment Part I - Transcriptions I

(2:13)

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part I Ch. 2, pg.17

Rhythm Embodiment Part I - Transcriptions II

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part I Ch. 2, pg.18

Rhythm Embodiment Part I - Transcriptions III

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part I Ch. 2, pg.19

Rhythm Embodiment Part I - Transcriptions IV

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.20

Body
&
Rhythm
RHYTHM EMBODIMENT PART II

• Switch between tapping the left hand rhythmic

accompaniment and tapping the right hand solo lines
• Focus on creating the connection between the rhythms
and your body

• You can also do this by dancing

Refer to the next section for transcriptions.

Elite Music Mentor

 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.21

Rhythm Embodiment Part II - Transcriptions I

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.22

Rhythm Embodiment Part II - Transcriptions II

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Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions III

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.24

Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions IV

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.25

Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions V

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.26

Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions VI

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.27

Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions VII

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.28

Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions VIII

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part II Ch. 2, pg.29

Rhythm Embodiment - Transcriptions IX

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 Rhythm Embodiment Part III Ch. 2, pg.30

Body
&
Rhythm
RHYTHM EMBODIMENT PART III

• Be thoughtful and present in the music you’re creating

• Don’t let it be automatic

• The movements you make while using the exercises
should come out when you’re actually playing the notes

RHYTHM EMBODIMENT PART III

• Incorporate the exercises into your practice routine. On

Record yourself on video using the exercises and analyze
whether there are differences between how your body
naturally expresses rhythm and the way you use rhythm
when there are notes involved. Try to bridge the differences.

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