I have given this exercise to hundreds of my private students over the last 40+ years.  Rhythm is king, and reading rhythms is the secret to learning to read music notation effortlessly.  The rhythms presented below are ALL the possible sixteenth and eighth note combinations that can exist within one beat. So, if you can play these, you will be well on your way seeing, hearing, and playing more rhythmicly in general. 

have given this exercise to hundreds of my private students over the last 40+ years.  Rhythm is king, and reading rhythms is the secret to learning to read music notation effortlessly.  The rhythms presented below are ALL the possible sixteenth and eighth note combinations that can exist within one beat. So, if you can play these, you will be well on your way seeing, hearing, and playing more rhythmicly in general.

Instructions: Preferably with a metronome. Suggested starting tempo = 60 bpm

1. On any note, play each line, repeating as needed until comfortable, WITH a “home-base” line of quarter notes in-between each line, also repeated as needed, moving on to the next rhythm only when ready.
2. Play each line, again repeating as needed, BUT with only one line of quarter notes between each (making you step into the next rhythm more quickly).
3. Play each line only ONCE, with one line of quarter notes between each.
4. Play each line only ONE time, reading the whole page down as written.
5. Play only the first TWO BEATS of each line, reading down the page.
6. Play only ONE BEAT of each line.
7. FASTER!!

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