--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: From my music training, I knew that, some…" description: "\"From my music training, I knew that, some Spanish rhythms apart, 5/4 is a time signature used only in the modern era. Holst's Mars from the Planets is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/nicholson-baker-3405_add_from-my-music-training-i-knew-that-some_747178.png" --- # From my music training, I knew that, some Spanish rhythms… ![“From my music training, I knew that, some Spanish rhythms apart, 5/4 is a time signature used only in the modern era. Holst's Mars from the Planets is 5/4. But if you speak lines of poetry in that pattern you just end up hitting the off-beats. It's only when you add a rest - a sixth beat - that it…” quote by Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/nicholson-baker-3405_add_from-my-music-training-i-knew-that-some_747178.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/nicholson-baker-3405_add_from-my-music-training-i-knew-that-some_747178.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/519/nicholson-baker-3405_add_from-my-music-training-i-knew-that-some_747178.png) > “From my music training, I knew that, some Spanish rhythms apart, 5/4 is a time signature used only in the modern era. Holst's Mars from the Planets is 5/4. But if you speak lines of poetry in that pattern you just end up hitting the off-beats. It's only when you add a rest - a sixth beat - that it sounds as it surely should sound.” [Nicholson Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholson-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 5/4 time feels modern; adding a rest creates a natural flow in poetry and music. **In simple terms:** 5/4 seems odd until a rest smooths it. Key Takeaway Use rests to balance irregular rhythms. Themes rhythm music poetry structure Mood analytical creative Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - composing music - writing poetry - teaching rhythm - performing complex meters Key Concepts time signatures beat placement musical phrasing Questions to Reflect On - How can you incorporate rests to improve flow? - What other patterns benefit from added beats? A Different Perspective Complex meters can feel forced without careful phrasing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eras/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mars/) [Modern era](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modern-era/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Rhythm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythm/) [Rhythms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rhythms/) [Sound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sound/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Training](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/training/) ## Related quotes > [All my life I've played 4/4, 2/4. Jazz has a different time signature. It's a lot harder. 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