How to "Du De": The Gordon/Froseth Rhythm Syllable System Explained

Summary

The video script introduces the syllable system developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, James Froth, and Albert Blazer, which revolutionizes rhythm counting in music by focusing on feeling rhythm rather than counting. It organizes rhythm into a language, independent of notation or music theory, and explains the concept of macro beats and micro beats in duple and triple meters. The system allows for the same rhythm pattern to be notated in various ways, emphasizing the auditory experience over traditional counting methods.

Takeaways

• 🎶 The syllable system is a rhythm counting method that focuses on feeling rhythm rather than counting it.
• 📚 Developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, James Froth, and Albert Blazer, this system is used by musicians and music teachers to understand rhythm better.
• 🌐 It organizes rhythm into a language that can be spoken without the constraints of notation or music theory.
• 📊 Rhythm has two primary layers: macro beats (big beats) and micro beats (little beats).
• 🔄 Macro beats are the pulse of music and can be divided into two or three parts, which are micro beats.
• 🎵 Micro beats indicate the meter of the music; two micro beats indicate duple meter, and three indicate triple meter.
• 🗣️ Duple meter macro beats are chanted as 'do' regardless of the time signature, and micro beats as 'do day'.
• 🎵 In triple meter, the macro beat is chanted as 'do do do', and micro beats as 'do do', irrespective of the time signature.
• 📝 The syllable system allows the same rhythm pattern to be notated in various ways based on how it is felt.
• 🔍 Further division of the beat uses the syllable 'T' for macro beats and micro divisions.
• 🎼 The sound of a rhythm pattern does not change even when notated in different time signatures, emphasizing the importance of feeling over notation.

Q & A

What is the focus of the video script provided?

The focus of the video script is the syllable system developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, James Feierabend, and Albert Blazer, which is a rhythm counting system for musicians and music teachers based on feeling rhythm rather than counting.

How does the syllable system differ from traditional counting methods in music?

The syllable system differs by focusing on how rhythm is felt and organizing it into a language, rather than relying on counting, notation, or music theory.

What are the two primary layers of rhythm according to the syllable system?

The two primary layers of rhythm are big beats (macro beats) and little beats (micro beats).

What is the significance of macro beats and micro beats in the syllable system?

Macro beats represent the pulse of music and can be divided into micro beats, which indicate the meter of the music, such as duple or triple meter.

How is the macro beat chanted in different meters?

In duple meter, the macro beat is chanted as 'do' regardless of the time signature, while in triple meter, it is chanted as 'do do do'.

What do micro beats indicate in the syllable system?

Micro beats indicate the meter of the music, with two micro beats indicating duple meter and three micro beats indicating triple meter.

How are micro beats chanted in duple meter?

In duple meter, micro beats are chanted as 'do day do day' regardless of the time signature.

What is the purpose of the syllable 'T' in the syllable system?

The syllable 'T' is used for further dividing the beat into divisions, allowing for more detailed rhythmic expression.

How does the syllable system handle rhythm patterns with different time signatures?

The system organizes rhythm patterns based on how they are felt and audiated, allowing the same pattern to be notated in various ways without changing the sound.

What is the importance of the syllable system in music education?

The syllable system provides an organizational framework for conveying musical thoughts, enhancing the understanding of rhythm and aiding in the teaching and learning process.

How does the syllable system approach rhythmic divisions in triple meter?

In triple meter, rhythmic divisions are chanted with the syllable 'do' for macro beats and 'do do' for micro beats, with further divisions using the syllable 'T'.

Outlines

00:00

🎶 Introduction to Rhythm Syllable System

This paragraph introduces the rhythm syllable system, a method developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, James Froth, and Albert Blazer, designed to help musicians and teachers feel and convey rhythm without relying on traditional counting. The system is centered around the concept of 'big beats' (macro beats) and 'little beats' (micro beats), which together form the foundational pulse of music. It explains how these beats can be divided differently to indicate different meters, such as duple or triple, and how the syllables used vary accordingly. The paragraph also discusses the importance of this system in organizing rhythm into a communicable language, independent of notation or music theory, and provides examples of how macro and micro beats are chanted in different time signatures, emphasizing the system's flexibility in rhythmic expression.

05:00

🥁 Application of Rhythm Syllable System in Triple Meter

The second paragraph delves into the application of the rhythm syllable system in triple meter. It explains that regardless of the time signature, the macro beat is chanted as 'do do do', while micro beats are chanted as 'do do'. The paragraph provides examples of how micro beats are articulated in various time signatures such as 3/4, 6/8, and 3/8. It also illustrates how further division of the beat is indicated using the syllable 'T' and presents rhythm patterns with divisions across different time signatures, highlighting that the sound of the pattern remains consistent despite the notation. The paragraph concludes with a demonstration of how to audiate the rhythm when the beat is elongated, by holding a syllable and focusing on the underlying macro and micro beats.

Keywords

💡Rhythm counting systems

Rhythm counting systems are methods used by musicians and music teachers to understand and communicate the temporal organization of music. In the context of the video, these systems are essential for conveying musical thoughts and are the basis for the syllable system discussed. The script mentions that the syllable system is a unique approach that deviates from traditional counting methods, emphasizing the feeling of rhythm over numerical counting.

💡Syllable system

The syllable system is a rhythmic organization framework developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, James Feierabend, and Albert Blazer. It is the central focus of the video, aiming to convey musical thoughts without the constraints of notation counting or music theory. The system uses syllables to represent beats and rhythmic patterns, allowing musicians to audiate and communicate rhythms more intuitively.

💡Beat

The beat in music is the basic unit of time that listeners tap their feet to or clap along with. In the video, the beat is divided into 'macro beats' and 'micro beats,' which are essential for understanding the rhythmic structure. The script explains that macro beats are the pulse of the music and can be divided into micro beats, which indicate the meter of the piece.

💡Macro beats

Macro beats, also referred to as 'big beats,' represent the larger, more noticeable pulses in music. The script explains that these beats can be divided into two or three parts, known as micro beats, and are foundational to the syllable system's approach to rhythm.

💡Micro beats

Micro beats, or 'little beats,' are subdivisions of macro beats and are used to indicate the meter of a piece. The script mentions that if a macro beat is divided into two micro beats, the music is in duple meter, and if divided into three, it is in triple meter. Micro beats are integral to the syllable system for conveying rhythmic patterns.

💡Duple meter

Duple meter is a time signature in which a piece of music is organized into groups of two beats. The script uses the syllable system to demonstrate how duple meter is represented through the chanting of macro and micro beats, with the syllable 'do' aligning with the beats.

💡Triple meter

Triple meter is a time signature where music is organized into groups of three beats. In the video, the syllable system is used to represent triple meter by chanting macro beats as 'do do do' and micro beats as 'do do,' regardless of the specific time signature.

💡Audiation

Audiation is the process of hearing and understanding music in the mind without the need for physical sound. The script emphasizes that the syllable system is designed to facilitate audiation by organizing rhythm into a language that can be spoken without notation.

💡Rhythmic function

Rhythmic function refers to the role that different rhythmic patterns play within a piece of music. The script explains that the syllables used in the syllable system will vary depending on the meter and the rhythmic function, allowing for a more expressive and intuitive understanding of rhythm.

💡Time signature

A time signature in music indicates the number of beats in each measure and the note value that corresponds to a single beat. The script discusses how the syllable system can be applied across various time signatures, demonstrating the flexibility of the system in organizing and conveying rhythm.

💡Notation

Music notation is the visual representation of musical ideas in written form. The video script contrasts the syllable system with traditional notation, highlighting that the system allows for rhythm to be expressed and understood without the constraints of written music.

Highlights

The syllable system is a rhythm counting system developed by Dr. Edwin Gordon, James Feierabend, and Albert Blazer that focuses on feeling rhythm rather than counting.

The system organizes rhythm into a language that can be spoken without the constraints of notation or music theory.

Rhythm has two primary layers: big beats (macro beats) and little beats (micro beats).

Macro beats are the pulse of music and can be divided into two or three parts called micro beats.

Micro beats indicate the meter of the music, with two micro beats indicating duple meter and three indicating triple meter.

In duple meter, the macro beat is chanted as 'do' regardless of the time signature.

In duple meter, micro beats are chanted as 'do day', aligning with the macro beat.

The syllable system allows the same rhythm pattern to be notated in many different ways based on how it is felt.

Further dividing the beat into divisions uses the syllable 'T' for macro beats and 'do' for micro beats.

In triple meter, the macro beat is chanted as 'do do' regardless of the time signature.

In triple meter, micro beats are chanted as 'do do', aligning with the macro beat.

Further dividing the beat in triple meter uses the syllable 'T' for macro beats and 'do' for micro beats.

The sound of a rhythm pattern does not change when notated in different time signatures.

If the beat is elongated, the syllable is held and the underlying macro and micro beats are audiated.

The syllable system provides an organizational framework to convey musical thoughts.

The system allows for the expression of rhythmic ideas without being limited by traditional notation or music theory.

Different rhythm patterns can be explored and understood through the syllable system, regardless of time signature.

The syllable system offers a unique approach to teaching rhythm that emphasizes feeling and expression over strict counting.

Transcripts

there are many Rhythm counting systems

for musicians and music teachers there's

the one 2A T takad takad apple apple

watermelon pear and the beat function

syllable system developed by Dr Edwin

Gordon along with James froth and Albert

Blazer that is the focus of this video

the concept that sets this system apart

is that it is not based on Counting but

rather focuses on how one feels Rhythm

it is based on the beat and the various

functions or parts of the beat this

system organizes Rhythm into a language

of sorts that one can speak devoid of

the constraints of notation counting or

music theory if thought is to language

as audiation is to music we need an

organizational framework to convey our

musical thoughts this system provides

such a framework here's how it

works

implicit in this system is the knowledge

that Rhythm has layers the two primary

layers of Rhythm are big beats and

little beats or macro beats and micro

beats the Big Beat the macro beat is the

pulse of Music the macro beat can be

divided into two or three parts the

parts are called micro beats micro beats

tell us what meter we are in if we

divide a macro beat into two micro beats

we are in duple meter if we divide a

macro beat into to three micr beats we

are in triple meter the syllables we

will use will vary depending on the

meter and the rhythmic function let's

look at our two primary meters duple and

triple and see how the syllable system

[Music]

works when we are in duple meter we

chant the macro beat as

do so regardless of whether we are in 24

44 cut time 48 or 2116 the macro beat

the pulse is still chanted as do do do

do do do do do when we are in 2 four and

44 the quarter note is the macro beat do

do do do when we are in two two or cut

time the half note is the macro beat do

do do do when we are in 48 the eighth

note is the macro beat do do do

do micro beats in duple meter are

chanted as do day do day do day do day

regardless of the time

signature notice that when we chant

macro beats and micro beats concurrently

the do syllable always aligns with the

do day do day D day do day do day day

day day day when we are in 2 four and 44

the eighth note is the micr beat D Day D

Day D Day D day when we are in 2 two or

cut time the quarter note is the micr

beat D Day D Day D Day D day when we are

in 48 the 16th note is the micr beat D

day do day do day do day a big takeaway

from this system is that the same Rhythm

pattern can be notated in many different

ways this system organizes Rhythm first

on how it is felt and in turn

Audi if we further divide the beat into

a division we will use the syllable

T macro beats do do do

micro

divisions let's examine three Rhythm

patterns with divisions and see what

they would look like in different time

signatures notice that the sound of the

pattern does not change let's do the

pattern do today doday doday doday doday

doday doday doday doday doday doday do

today doday doday doday doday another

pattern do data do data do data do day

to do day to do day to do day to do day

to do day to do day to do day to do data

do data do data do data do

data another

pattern data data dat D dat D dat D dat

D dat D dat D dat dat D dat D dat D dat

D data D data D data if the beat is

elongated we simply hold a syllable and

audiate think the underlying macro beats

and micro

beats D day do

do day do do day do do day

[Music]

do when we are in triple meter

regardless of the time signature we

chant the macro beat as do do do do so

regardless of whether we are in 34 68 or

38 the macro beat the pulse is always is

do do do do do do do do do do do do

micro beats in triple meter are chanted

as do do regardless of the time

signature notice that when we chant

micro beats and macro beats concurrently

the do s syllable always aligns with the

D

D here are micro beats in three

different time

signatures D do do do do do do do doy

doy Dy

Dy just like in duple meter if we

further divide the beat into a division

we will use the syllable T macro beats

do divisions

now here's what they look like with

three different time

signatures

D let's look at three Rhythm patterns

with divisions and see what they would

look like in different time signatures

notice the sound of the pattern does not

change

d d d

D D D D

D D do

D do do D do do D do do D do do D do do

D do do D do do D do do D do do D do do

D do da D do da

D do da do

d d

d if the beat is a longed we simply hold

the syllable and audiate the underlying

macro beats and micro beats D do de

do do de do D de

doo D do de

[Music]

doo