Regarding improving your rhythm, the following is the Konokol method for practicing music without playing an instrument. One can practice thinking and coordinating rhythmic subdivisions in music.
Try this:
First you need to keep time. Here's a 4/4 that has a common 4 times crotchet count:
1. For beat 1, simply clap
2. For beat 2, clap with the little finger of your right-hand (if you are right-handed) against your opposite palm
3. For beat 3, clap with your ring finger of the same hand
4. For beat four, clap in the same manner with your middle finger.
Pick a steady tempo, and as you clap each beat say 'Da' (or '1')
I.e.,
Da
Da
Da
Da
To sub-divide into quavers (sub-dividing into halves) say Ta-ka (or '2'). Here as you clap, say 'ta', then in the exact middle of the space before the next beat say 'ka'. You have 4 taka's in one 4/4 bar.
I.e.,
Ta-ka
Ta-ka
Ta-ka
Ta-ka
To sub-divide into triplet quavers (sub-dividing the crotchet count into thirds or 12ths of one bar) say 'Ta-ki-ta'. Here as you clap, say 'ta',then in two equal spaces before the next beat say 'ki-ta'. You have 4 takita's in one 4/4 bar.
I.e.,
Ta-ki-ta
Ta-ki-ta
Ta-ki-ta
Ta-ki-ta
For semi-quavers (sub-dividing the crotchet count into fourths or 16ths of one bar) say 'Ta-ka-dim-i'. Here as you clap, say 'ta',then in three equal spaces before the next beat say 'ka-dim-i'. You have 4 takadimi's in one 4/4 bar.
I.e.,
Ta-ka-dim-i
Ta-ka-dim-i
Ta-ka-dim-i
Ta-ka-dim-i
To achieve triplet semi-quavers (sub-dividing the crotchet count into sixths or 24ths of one bar) say 'Ta-ka-dim-i, Ta-ka-Jun-a'. Here as you clap, say 'ta',then in five equal spaces before the next beat say 'ka-dim-i', plus a further 'ta-ka', start the next cycle of six accenting 'Jun-a' adding a further 'Ta-ka-dim-i', carrying on noting the six counts against the 8's of the Ta-k-dim-i Ta-k-Jun-a' cycle. You have 3 takadimi takajuna's in one 4/4 bar.
I.e.,
>
Ta- ka -dim -i Ta -ka
>
Jun-a Ta -ka -dim -i
>
Ta -ka -Jun -a Ta -ka
>
dim -i ta -ka jun-a
To achieve demi-semi-quavers (sub-dividing the crotchet count into eighths or 32nds of one bar) say 'Ta-ka-dim-i Ta-ka-Jun-a'. Here as you clap, say 'ta',then in seven equal spaces before the next beat say 'ki-dim-i Ta-ka-Jun-a'. You have 4 takadimi takajuna's in one 4/4 bar.
I.e.,
> > >
Ta-ka-dim-i Ta-ka-Jun-a
> > >
Ta-ka-dim-i Ta-ka-Jun-a
> > >
Ta-ka-dim-i Ta-ka-Jun-a
> > >
Ta-ka-dim-i Ta-ka-Jun-a
For further training I suggest purchasing this excellent Konokol teaching DVD: A Gateway To Rhythm
Dale Harris, August 2011
