While a student at North Texas, I was shown a very helpful trick which I still use every day in my playing. I called it the “North Texas Shuffle” and it goes like this.
As we tap out feet, (when allowed by the director) most use one foot to complete the task. By doing this you have no idea as to where you are in each measure. But if you do the “North Texas Shuffle” your problems will be solved.
How to do the North Texas Shuffle-
Tap your left foot on beats 1 and 3 and your right foot on 2 and 4.
Now wasn’t that simple?
The advantage of this action tells you in every measure where you are, either on 1 and 3 if your left foot is hitting the floor or on beats 2 and 4 if your right foot in making contact with the floor.
As an exercise, do the following
Start singing God Bless America and tap your left foot on 1 and 3, your right foot on 2 and 4.
Repeat this exercise a couple times until you feel comfortable with all the foot work.
Now……
Sing the same song and only implement your fight foot. Do you notice a feeling of uncertainty? You should.
The left, right taps indicate which beats you should be on and this breaks the measures into easy to recognize sections.
After you get used to this practice you’ll never go back to single taps with one foot again.
I have to admit that I got out of this routine lately and I couldn’t figure out why I was having so many problems counting the complicated Funk rhythms in a current band I am in. Once I recognized my mistake, I went back to the North Texas Shuffle and everything began to fall in place again.
Try it, you’ll like it. Your band director may not agree but that is between you and him/her.
