Arts & Entertainment, Music

Finding Your Rhythm

Sheila E.

Lesson time 10:46 min

Sheila demonstrates how to find your rhythm by moving, clapping, and using household objects to make music.

Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Topics include: Make Music out of Anything

Preview

[00:00:00.00] [MUSIC PLAYING] [00:00:08.20] - Rhythm is something that everyone has, whether you're aware of it or not. [00:00:12.28] [00:00:12.88] When you listen to your heartbeat, it has a rhythm. That is rhythm it's a timing. It's a swag. It's something. It's a rhythm. And everyone has rhythm. [00:00:25.18] Rhythm is a movement. And you can do it with your hands, on your lap, on the table. Just practice to a metronome. [00:00:33.76] [CLAPS RHYTHM] [00:00:35.82] And you learn about rhythm. You try it. Ready? 1, 2, 3, go. [00:00:41.62] [CLAPS RHYTHM] [00:00:48.74] Excellent. You want to change rhythms? You can go-- [00:00:51.02] [CLAPS RHYTHM] [00:00:54.71] Then pace, just keep straight. Let's try it with music. And I think that we should do it with one of your favorite songs. Well, it's one of my favorites, "Glamorous Life." Let's try it. Here we go. [00:01:06.08] [MUSIC - SHEILA E, "THE GLAMOROUS LIFE"] [00:01:07.56] You hear the tempo? [00:01:08.35] [CLAPS RHYTHM] [00:01:12.08] Here we go, 2, 3, uh. [00:01:13.99] [CLAPS RHYTHM] [00:01:21.36] (SINGING) She wears a long fur coat of mink even in the summer time-- [00:01:26.77] And so, for some of you who can't play that fast, do halftime. Just-- [00:01:30.69] [CLAPS RHYTHM] [00:01:32.17] Just like this. [00:01:33.00] (SINGING) The girl's got a lot on her mind. She's got big thoughts-- [00:01:38.06] And for some of you who can't do that, what if you walked in place like this? Same thing. [00:01:43.99] (SINGING) What I think this girl, she really wants-- [00:01:47.11] See? It's a rhythm. That is your rhythm. [00:01:50.39] (SINGING) She wants to lead-- [00:01:53.11] Then-- no, I'm just kidding. Here we go, like this, right? [00:01:56.70] (SINGING) --a man's touch. She wants to lead the glamorous life. Without love-- [00:02:03.69] It ain't much. Here we go. Just keep walking it out. It's like exercise. Keep practicing. Double time like this. [00:02:19.84] (SINGING) She saw him standing in the section marked-- [00:02:23.30] There you go. Good job. [00:02:25.12] [00:02:27.11] [DRUMMING ON PAN] [00:02:33.09] Here's how you learn a little bit more about rhythm. And if you can't afford or don't have drums or percussion at your house, it's not a problem because right here, we have a bunch of items right from your house, pots, pans, a little bit of food, water bottles, some drills. [00:02:51.74] Growing up, when I was younger, I started on pots and pans because my dad's drums were a little bit too high, a little bit too big for me. So I did. I started out with these pots and pans. [00:03:02.25] I feel that I can take anything and make it music. I have used these items on many albums. I'm not going to tell you which ones. You'd have to figure it out. [00:03:12.28] Everyone has keys in the house. You put them together, make a shaker. [00:03:16.77] [SHAKES RHYTHMICALLY] [00:03:18.24] Just take your old keys. It works wonderfully. [00:03:22.7...

About the Instructor

Raised in a family of musicians, Sheila E. has collaborated with icons like Marvin Gaye and Ringo Starr and was named one of the all-time greatest drummers by Rolling Stone. Now she teaches you how to find your rhythm. Learn the principles of percussion—with or without a drum set—and discover techniques for dynamic solos and fills. Jam with the Escovedo family and find your own groove, as a beginner or as a bandleader.

Featured MasterClass Instructor

Sheila E.

Legendary drummer Sheila E. welcomes you to the world of percussion and teaches you how to express yourself through rhythm.

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