On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti The 'universal language' of rhythm
Mar 20, 2026
Billy Martin, drummer/composer from Medeski Martin & Wood, talks about groove and embodied percussion. Jerry Leake, world percussionist and educator, demonstrates African drumming and ensemble practice. Susan Rogers, neuroscience and psychoacoustics professor, explains how the brain locks to tempo and why certain beats move us. They explore rhythm in movement, culture, and everyday life.
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Rhythm As Embodied Language
- Rhythm is a universal, embodied language that organizes movement, speech, and social interaction.
- Jerry Leake shows this by teaching ensemble parts, using movement and staggered entrances to reveal rhythmic texture and feel.
Learn Rhythm By Moving Not Just Counting
- Learn rhythm through movement and gradual immersion rather than just mechanics.
- Jerry Leake instructs students to move their bodies, rotate parts, and rotate instruments so they feel the pocket and stop overthinking.
Use Additive Arrangement To Internalize Pulse
- Build ensemble arrangements by adding and subtracting parts to train internal pulse and trust.
- Jerry Leake conducts staggered entrances and deliberate dropouts so students internalize the engine rather than rely on an external cue.