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Using a metronome to improve cross step speed
This one is for the nerds. In learning a fast piece of music, it can be helpful to practice at a slow tempo, and gradually increase speed until you can play comfortably at full speed. You can do this using a metronome. So if the music is at 200 beats per minute (bpm), you start at 100 bpm, and then gradually increase by 10 bpm at a time, only when you can play it fluidly and comfortably.
I was watching the US Open and they played a replay of one surfer doing 4 quick steps forward, and an immediate 4 steps back. It was fast, smooth, balanced, and on rhythm, like a dance step. The music nerd in me thought “I wonder what tempo that is?” I used a metronome app to estimate she was stepping at 219 bpm, one step per beat… 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4
I then put the metronome on at 219bpm and realized I couldn’t step comfortably at that tempo on land, not even close! My comfortable speed with knees bent and weight balanced is closer to 100 bpm! I’m thinking I might try some land practice with a metronome to see if it helps me builds the muscle memory and improve speed. Could be great for the 2 small step, 2 big step, etc.
If you google “metronome” there is a google metronome that conveniently goes up to 218bpm, which is roughly the speed of Ginger Caimi’s cross steps.
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The very best keep their steps in rhythm…
It’s something, however, I usually work on with people once they’ve had their first few noserides
most usually you’ll see people learning with crotchet then semi-crotchet and then hips rocket back (the second step is always so uncertain and rushed and non-committed)
For me, for now, my rhythm is definitely best when I am smiling or singing in my head – I think I trick myself into being calm…like with free diving 🙂
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