CC Podcast S. 2 #6 - We Got Rhythm

Choral Cacophony Podcast

This weeks Choral Cacophony Podcast episode is an extra long one - about 10 minutes. With two whole body exercises, the Stairwell Carollers work on rhythm. Pierre created special practice sheets for teaching rhythm to his students and uses a whole body approach to teaching it. For all rhythm exercises he stresses coordination between the mind and the body; a musician always has to keep count of the beats in a bar while singing, playing an instrument, etc. This is challenging to say the least. Using Rhythm Sheet 1a - shown below - Pierre leads the choir in alternate forms of clapping and saying the beat/note number position in the bar. Rhythms 1a - all rights reserved, Pierre Massie About The Stairwell Carollers: Pierre Massie began our a cappella choir way back in 1977 while studying music at Ottawa U. The Stairwell Carollers are ranked with the best of Ontario choirs, winning both the 2010 and 2013 Ontario Music Festival Association competitions. A registered Canadian charity, we also help local charities with our concert, CD and cookbook sales. Net proceeds benefit charity. Please DONATE to support our 40th year workshops!

Chapters

1. Chapter 1 - Pierre introduces rhythm by simply explaining some note and rest names and simple counting for a four beat bar. (00:00:00)

2. Chapter 2 - Exercise 1 - Choir claps the rhythm, says TAH for the Notes, says the number for the Rests. (00:02:01)

3. Chapter 3 -Pierre explains how a music starts on 1, not at zero. Thus each note lasts right till the next note. (00:03:36)

4. Chapter 4 - Exercise 2 - Pierre explains why there are different types of exercises. Coordination! Count the beat out loud and clap the rhythm. Rests are shown by holding the hands open between claps. (00:04:02)