Gymnastic Classes

Having discussed briefly the fundamentals of the apparatus techniques and body elements, we turn now to the aspect of music, a very important part of rhythmic gymnastics. All the exercises are performed to music and all the work in performance should be a direct reflection of the music, be it classical, jazz, rock ‘n roll or whatever. It is not imperative to be a musician to be a rhythmic gymnast or coach, but it most certainly helps if you have a sense of rhythm and you appreciate and understand music, if only a little. Simply to know the difference between beats, and be able to count or tap out a basic 2/4 or 3/4 rhythm helps i.e. to recognize whether there are two beats or three beats in the bar. This is important in understanding and feeling the type of movement which suits the two or three beat type of music, because they are very different. Three beat music is essentially a waltz time, and whether played quickly or slowly it suggest a lilting or swaying movement, whereas the two …