Rubato for Dummies

Hey there!

So you're wondering what the word "Rubato" means, right? Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible.

Now, imagine you are playing with a toy car. You're pushing it around, making it go fast and slow, right? Well, in music, there is something called "Rubato," which is kind of like playing with time, just like you play with that toy car.

When a musician plays a piece of music with Rubato, it means that they have the freedom to speed up or slow down the tempo (the speed of the music) slightly, just like how you speed up and slow down the toy car. It's like they're bending the rules a little bit, but in a beautiful and artistic way!

Now, let's dig a little deeper into this word. Rubato comes from an Italian word which means "robbed" or "stolen." So, when a musician uses Rubato, it's like they are stealing a little bit of time or taking more time from one part of the music and giving it to another part. It's like they are playing with time and making it their own, making the music come alive!

Let me give you an analogy. Imagine you're drawing a picture of a flower. You can take your time to carefully draw each petal, making some bigger and others smaller, adding little details. That's how Rubato works in music – it's like an artist painting a beautiful picture with their notes and melodies, giving different parts more attention and expression.

So, in a nutshell, Rubato is a fancy musical term that means musicians have the freedom to play with time, speeding up or slowing down the tempo slightly, to add emotion, expression, and make the music more interesting. It's like playing with a toy car, bending the rules, and creating something unique and beautiful. Pretty cool, huh?

Keep exploring the world of music, my friend! You're doing great!