Up to three modules can be taken during your master's studies:

• Advanced Rhythm ‘Birdflight’
• Advanced Rhythm ‘Deepening’
• Advanced Rhythm ‘Expert’

This course delves into the world of polyrhythms and develops students’ rhythmic independence. We begin by exploring regular accents—for example, how to play 5 against 6 or 7 against 4—using a clear, step-by-step methodology that helps students understand and internalize these complex rhythmic relationships.

As the course progresses, we move into irregular accents and more advanced concepts. Students will strengthen their rhythmic independence while learning to navigate metric changes and phrasing that go beyond traditional beat-to-beat solfège methods.

In addition to developing original material, students will engage with rhythmic ideas drawn from artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Snarky Puppy, faculty works in jazz and advanced rhythm, and examples contributed by classmates. This blend of structured learning and creative exploration encourages each student to build a personal and practical rhythmic vocabulary.

Learning objectives

• Phrase independently of the underlying meter
• Develop polyrhythmic thinking, insight, and independence
• Create personalized practice material

This module deepens the rhythmic skills developed in previous courses. We take polyrhythms further by stacking them and cultivate the ability to feel complex ratios (e.g., 5:3, 7:4) to the extent that students can improvise freely within diverse subdivisions.
Students will create their own rhythmic material and also explore music by artists like Tigran Hamasyan, Steve Coleman, Miles Okazaki, Aka Moon, faculty compositions, and peer contributions.

Learning objectives

•  Achieve exceptional rhythmic independence and insight
•  Internalize polyrhythms as foundational meters
•  Develop advanced practice material

In the final module of the Advanced Rhythm series, students are trained to become true rhythm experts. We explore broken beats and complex time signatures composed of mixed units (e.g., 5¾, 7½). Students work on pieces that combine and layer all previously learned techniques, constantly reshaping and reinterpreting material in innovative ways.
We draw inspiration from artists such as Tigran Hamasyan, Vijay Iyer, Steve Coleman, Messiaen, as well as works by alumni, faculty, and student contributions.

Learning objectives

•  Achieve expert-level rhythmic mastery
•  Integrate and combine all techniques learned
•  Master broken beats and irregular meters