Basic Music Theory
Music is divided into equal time sections called measures. In a given piece of music, all the measures are usually the same length. Measures are divided into beats which each take up an equal amount of time. (Measures are sometimes called bars.)
Understanding Time Signatures
Time signature is a notation that tells you how many beats are present in a measure of music and how long those beats are. Time signatures are written as fractions with the top number indicating the number of beats and the bottom number indicating the duration of each beat. Thus a rhythm that is 2/4 means there are two beats and each is a quarter note long while 6/8 would mean there are 6 beats and each is an eighth note long.
The common time signatures include 2/4, 3/4, 4/4. 8/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8 and 10/8. For time signatures that use a quarter note duration of beat, the additional subdivisions of e, &, a are often used to flesh out the rhythm.
To count a 2/4 rhythm, you would count one two one two, counting just the quarter note beats. You could flesh it out to 8th notes by counting 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and, and further flesh it out to 1/16th notes by counting 1e&a2e&a. Even when you add the additional subdivision, the time between 1 and 2 remains the same. Counting other time signatures works the same, so 4/4 is counted 1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a and 8/4 is counted 1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a5e&a6e&a7e&a8e&a
The common time signatures include 2/4, 3/4, 4/4. 8/4, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8 and 10/8. For time signatures that use a quarter note duration of beat, the additional subdivisions of e, &, a are often used to flesh out the rhythm.
To count a 2/4 rhythm, you would count one two one two, counting just the quarter note beats. You could flesh it out to 8th notes by counting 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and, and further flesh it out to 1/16th notes by counting 1e&a2e&a. Even when you add the additional subdivision, the time between 1 and 2 remains the same. Counting other time signatures works the same, so 4/4 is counted 1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a and 8/4 is counted 1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a5e&a6e&a7e&a8e&a
Finding the One
Finding the one in music is important for both improvisation and choreographies. When we do group improvisation the next stall movement or next combination always starts on the one of the next measure. When you are performing a choreography, the next movement phrase will start with the one of a measure as well. What is the one? The one is the start of a measure of music. Music has a beat which you count. The number of beats in a measure can vary (see the section on time signatures). Whether the measure has 2 beats or 10 beats you still start counting with a one a the beginning of each measure. So how do you find the one? There are several cues in the music to help you find where the start of a measure is at.
First, listen to the rhythm. Most Middle Eastern rhythms begin with a Dum. There are some exceptions, rhythms that start with a tek, but generally speaking if you can listen to the rhythm and located the dums you are on your way to finding the one.
Second, listen to the melody line of the song. Each time a new phrase of melody starts, you will find the one. Think of musical phrases as sentences. There is usually a short pause (like the one we take to breathe when speaking) at the end of the phrase and then the next one starts.
Finally, if there are vocals, listen to when the singer starts singing. Usually the start of the next line of the lyrics coincides with the one in the beat. Once you have found the one you can count how many beats there are in the measure to get an idea of what the time signature might be and use the sounds you hear in the rhythm, the dums, teks and kas, to determine what rhythm you have.
First, listen to the rhythm. Most Middle Eastern rhythms begin with a Dum. There are some exceptions, rhythms that start with a tek, but generally speaking if you can listen to the rhythm and located the dums you are on your way to finding the one.
Second, listen to the melody line of the song. Each time a new phrase of melody starts, you will find the one. Think of musical phrases as sentences. There is usually a short pause (like the one we take to breathe when speaking) at the end of the phrase and then the next one starts.
Finally, if there are vocals, listen to when the singer starts singing. Usually the start of the next line of the lyrics coincides with the one in the beat. Once you have found the one you can count how many beats there are in the measure to get an idea of what the time signature might be and use the sounds you hear in the rhythm, the dums, teks and kas, to determine what rhythm you have.
