Record Reviews

TL;DR: The teaching of rhythm is challenging, but the use of Ludwig Tuned Time Bells provides a new and effective way to teach rhythm.

Abstract: I has been pointed out so often that rhythm is not the characteristic and denning factor in music and that rhythm may prevail where music is absent, that often its teaching is thought to be of secondary and often of little impor­ tance. In many places teachers have been brought to have a fear of rhythm teaching. Being one of those who feels that the failure of the student to learn rhythm is the result of some reluctance coupled with inability on our part to teach this phase of music, I have been interested in every new means by which rhythm learning could be accomplished. The idea underlying the instruction in connection with the use of the Ludwig Tuned Time Bells has struck me more favorably than anything I have seen for some time. The scheme provides each of several children with an individual bell or bar, each of which has different pitch and each of which is to be sounded when its pitch is needed in the melodic line. Each player is handed a printed part that contains rests for every moment when other bells are being played and notes that he must strike exactly when the pitch of his bell is needed. Certainly the child must SEE his rhythm and understand its signifi­ cance. One wrong whack at his bell will so disturb his sense of musical right­ ness that the significance of rhythm will be emphasized if not born.