Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse

Subject: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: GUEST,Simple John
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 11:36 AM

My 14 year old student has problems in keeping a steady pulse with his arm when singing solfege and indicating the pulse with hand movements (for example down, left, right up for 4/4 time and down right up for 3/4 time). His hand does not coincide with the down beat (a down movement of the hand) and in general with the pulse. How do I deal with that?

Subject: RE: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: sophocleese
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 12:39 PM

Practice, practice, practice, go slow enough to get it right and then speed up. Get the student to dance to the rhythm.

Subject: RE: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: Burke
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 06:38 PM

Use the whole body & separate the beating time from the singing to start with. Walk & clap in rhythm.

Also, maybe if you try with simpler motions. Tapping the toe on each beat. Just move the hand up & down to indicate a beat & then worry about down beats & such later. Even then, subdividing up & down can be easier than sideways movements. In Sacred Harp we often beat down, down, up for three.

Subject: RE: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: Margo
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 12:41 AM

It's a bit like rubbing your tummy and patting your head. You have to get the hang of it. Some people have trouble "multi-tasking" and always will. I CANNOT talk while I'm writing my name; I will always misspell it. I agree about starting with a downbeat and getting the rest later. Margo

Subject: RE: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 12:44 AM

What is "solfege"? I guess this SearchMeistrss could go look it up.......

Subject: RE: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 08 Feb 01 - 10:56 AM

Solfege: the system of ear-training that names the steps of the scale with the syllables do, re, mi etc. I find it very useful in singing, not very useful in instrument playing.
First of all, what is the goal? Is he expected to be able to conduct and sing solfege at school?
Whatever the reason for learning, start simply: have him sing and clap the beat, or just move his arm up and down to the beats, not worrying about conducting in 3 or 4. Make sure he can feel the beat at all before expecting him to find the downbeat!
Then help him feel what I call the "strong beat", either by increasing the strenghth of the clap or the arm movement, or by changing the motion, for example CLAP pat pat CLAP pat pat (for 3/4 time).
That may take some time, but when he really gets it, he's ready to try actual conducting motions.
Good luck! I recently heard of a survey that said that over 75% of US high school seniors could not walk to a steady beat. Getting their bodies to conform to the music isn't as easy as we musician-types think it is!

Subject: RE: Solfege and keepimg a steady pulse
From: GUEST,Medothul James
Date: 17 Jun 12 - 06:40 AM

The informations are not precise. There are too much unnecessary repeatations.