Teal, Larry: Studies in Time Division

Scientific studies in the field of time perception have long substantiated the fact that the human mind is more capable of accurately measuring a short period of time than a long one. With this thought in mind, it is our contention that we have been teaching time division backwards. Division of a relatively long period, i.e., the "beat" into eighths, sixteenths, thirty-seconds, etc., with all the possible combinations, is much more difficult than building up time values from a smaller time unit.

These studies are aimed at developing an accurate rhythmic sense built up from the sixteenth-note time value. They are intended either for private or classroom study. The musical studies can be recited in the classroom after each exercise has been completed.