“Taka-tee-and-uh”: Discovering the Power of Rhythmic Teaching in the Ensemble Rehearsal
This presentation advocates for a practical, sound-first approach to rhythmic teaching in ensemble rehearsals, emphasizing the importance of a consistent syllable system for fostering rhythm literacy. The overabundance of rhythmic teaching methods and the lack of a standardized system can confuse both conductor-teachers and students. The Takadimi system, a modification of the Kodály rhythm syllables, offers a solution by assigning specific syllables to each beat and ensuring consistent chanting across different meters. This system prioritizes a sound-to-symbol strategy, fostering direct connections between auditory patterns and notation. Unlike systems that tie syllables to notation symbols, the Takadimi approach encourages students to first develop a sound vocabulary before engaging with written symbols. This system is adaptable to various teaching methods, enhances rhythmic precision, and supports the generalization of rhythmic patterns across different meters for learners of all ages. Ultimately, the presentation explores the adoption of a syllable-based, sound-first rhythm system improves the efficacy of rhythm instruction, contributing to a deeper understanding and more accurate execution of rhythmic concepts.
Session Objectives:
Learning to utilize the simple and compound syllable-based sounds
Learning to adapt the counting system into practical music for ensembles
Learn to incorporate the takadimi method into daily rehearsals to make the system effective long term for students.
