A good way to get to know them lil buggers without the distraction of pitch and words is to pick up a percussion book at your music store... leaf through the drumming pattern books till you find a book that is set up so that it makes SENSE to you. Pick it out yourself-- don't let anyone HELP you. And then take the book to a quiet private spot and use your hands to slap a table with what is written. They usually start out quite simple and then get trickier.

We had a good thread on rhythm in the last year, but I can't recall the name. Maybe someone can find it and refresh it.

Anyway beneath the time signature is another whole layer of rhythm which is the pulse of the piece... where the signature may read 4/4 but you can feel those quarter notes vibrating in smaller units.

If you are a guitar player this study will be invaluable to your strumming and picking patterns, and if you sing it will help you with expression when you can see how the time and pulse fit together.

~Susan