Irene Light: I Got Rhythm

I GOT RHYTHM

(And so do YOU!)

By Irene Light

When Ira Gershwin wrote the words to “I Got Rhythm” he wasn’t telling the world anything new. Not only did he have rhythm, along with his brother George but so did his mother and his father ( and so did his sisters and his cousins and his aunts. OOOPS! Wrong composer. )

Well, to tell the truth, everyone is born with rhythm! Just give a 2 year-old child a cooking pot and a wooden spoon and you will hear rhythm. Could you please take those things away from him now?? Thank you. That is better.

Okay; now back to serious stuff. Do you know that if you were living in Hungary, you would be most likely be learning notes and rhythm through the Kodaly method? Well, it’s true. (I had a course on this in college so trust me!) You would be learning how to sing notes and clap rhythms at a basic and natural level.

Zoltan Kodaly started the Kodaly Method named after…………….Can’t you even get THAT right? Kodaly felt that music should belong to everyone. This theory is taken very seriously in Hungary. Remember that 2 year old with the pot and spoon? Well, if for some reason, you couldn’t pass music class (along with your other subjects like “sharing” and “potty training “) then that little 2 year old would be headed for college by the time you were promoted to first grade! Luckily for everyone, rhythm is so natural that it would (should) be impossible to fail. Well, in your case……….

Okay. So your heart beats rhythmically with a constant beat. That still doesn’t get you out of Kindergarten. Sorry! What? You don’t care about rhythm?? Well, LISTEN UP!

Even while you were in the womb, you were sensing music. Your mother’s steady heartbeat gave you a feeling of security. Even now, you can feel more relaxed and less stressed if you listen to music gently pulsing at about 72 beat per minute. PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!!

Feel unloved? Need friends? Go to a place where you can interact with rhythm such as a church, a rock concert, a dance or go see a parade. You will be clapping, stamping, stomping and bonding with everyone there. Rhythm brings people together. By the way, if you need to organize a crowd of unruly kids, just start them clapping, jumping or marching to a basic beat. Now you would have known this if you had read my article called “Help! They Are Out Of Control!!” (SIGH!)

Have you started exercising yet? Well, just remember that listening to music at a certain rhythmic pace will keep you motivated. Vary the tempo if you wish but the beat goes on and so will you.

The same music with a strong beat will help you to keep a smile on your face while doing household chores. All right, maybe you won’t smile but it will keep the frown away. Have you been putting off things like dusting or painting a room or scrubbing the tub or other “I wish that I didn’t have to do this” kind-of stuff? Then just march right over to the offending area and start humming “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (Glory, Glory …that one.) Now get into that rhythm and start working. That’s why it is called a “work song.” Any other music with a heavy beat will do. You can load your Ipod with hours of rockin’ beatin’ rhythms of all kinds and, before you know it, your work is done!

Okay. I have to stop writing now. I have inspired myself enough to get up and clean my closet. I’ve got rhythm. Who could ask for anything more? * YEAH!

* Lyrics from “I Got Rhythm” by George and Ira Gershwin