I am playing in a measure of 2 or a duple meter. Here we play with beats of 2, 3 and 4 divisions. I start with 3, which I am playing with a swing feel on the recording. At “hip,” I take a way a division (e.g. 3 divisions becomes 2), at “hop,” I add one (e.g. 3 divisions becomes 4). “Return” signals a change back to 3. It could be notated in 6/8 with a dotted quarter beat for “3”; 2/4 with a quarter note beat for “2”, and 2/2 with a half note beat (and eight note subdivision) for “4”. The eighth note is kept at a constant tempo–or at least that is my intention! This is known as a “quick reaction” game in Dalcroze parlance. In this case, the signal is verbal (they can also be visual, musical or tactile).
Follow along by stepping the beat and clapping the division. For more fun, try bouncing and catching a ball on the beat. Bounce from one hand and catch to the other, alternating hands each time. It becomes a study in the relationship between time, space and energy.
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