Rhythm and tempo

When working on writing projects I listen almost exclusively to two classic jazz albums: Time Out with the Dave Brubeck Quartet and Kind of Blue with Miles Davis. Over the years it is the rhythm, tempo, time, and phrasing that keep me coming back to these classics.

The longer I coach the more I see that one of the differentiators between good and great, sound technicians in their sport and flawed technicians is rhythm and tempo. It is certainly something that I coach now more than I ever have. It is something that I look for in analyzing efficient movement. Great movement is jazz – it is orchestrated but with rhythm and flow allowing for improvisation. Jazz is not mechanical. The take home message is to look for rhythm and tempo and coach it.