What makes music unique, unlike other forms of expression or communication? I suspect most people could put together a personal list of several things. But among the most important have to be the ways music is wedded to time.

Each note – even each rest – has a time value. Each measure has a time signature, the meter, and the repeating meter, measure after measure, contributes to the song’s beat. Also, while other activities (such as an athletic maneuver or telling a joke) may require timing for brief moments, a piece of music depends on timing for many consecutive minutes.

Highlighting the centrality of rhythm, numerous songs have been written about its importance and what it can do for you:

Rhythm refers to the various components of a piece of music that pertain to time. Briefly stated, music adheres to conditions linked to time. The scientific way of saying this is: Music respects time........

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