Why is it that some solo artists, combos, bands or orchestras communicate with the listener on an extra special level? They seem to have that extraordinary ingredient that makes them stand out from the crowd.
Is it tuning, technique, tone, personality, grace, ease of execution? To make it onto the top shelf they need all those, but for me, the number 1 element is their sense of TIME.
Imagine that a leaf falls onto a steadily flowing calm stream. The speed of the water represents the time and you are the leaf. When the downbeat falls or the count in finishes, the leaf hits the stream. How to learn rhythm and not rock the leaf? Because whether you push forward (racing) or pull back (dragging), the leaf makes a disturbance on the water.
The great artist allows time to be, he has no need to fight it and his graceful mastery of the instrument permits him to move through a piece of music without creating a ripple on that stream.
Of course this little analogy of mine applies mainly to music that flows at a steady tempo and is a bit more far fetched for colla voce or out of tempo pieces. But even for that style I like the idea of the stream (and the leaf) slowing down or speeding up, simply by making the surface it flows on more level or steeper.
How to accept time in music and flow with it?
Don't hold or touch your instrument with any unnecessary tension. Concrete arms & shoulders holding a trumpet or bowing a cello are a barrier to flowing time.Be aware of your technical ability at all times.
Resist the urge to show-off, especially if point 2 above is not happening.
Leave any controlling personality traits in the dressing room. It's about acceptance and cooperation.
Learn to play time without pushing or holding back the leaf.
Don't fight it, accept it, go with it. Nothing special needs to happen, just play.
If you want to "dig-in" more (for that slow dirty shuffle groove) simply sit lower in the "water", immerse yourself, nothing else.
How does disturbing the time affect a group of players?
It doesn't matter if there are 2 or 5 or 16 or 60 musicians playing together, the lack of time in music by just 1 or a few is the one sly and hidden element that can make any band or orchestra sound ordinary.
It only needs a pushy drummer or a lagging bass player, a "tempo-bulli" on principle trumpet or a technically inept 2nd viola to create that tell-tale ripple around the leaf and make a piece of music sound uncomfortable.
The most outstanding combos, bands and orchestras, the ones that seem to have the touch of magic, simply consist of musicians who tick all the boxes when it comes to pitch, technique, sound and creativity but who also have accepted the fact that time in music does not have to be messed with.
Just BE the leaf and enjoy the ride.
Be prepared to surrender to the stream, that is how to learn rhythm.
I've had the pleasure to sit in bands with that special sense of time.
It was difficult to wipe the smile off my face.
Learn to internalize the beat and become the leaf on the stream: http://eartraining-online.com/best-metronome.html
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