According to Dalcroze, "the aim of Eurhythmics is to enable pupils, at the end of their course, to say, not "I know", but "I have experienced," and so to create in them the desire to express themselves; for the deep impression of an emotion inspires a longing to communicate it, to the extent of one's powers, to other."
Here are a few basic exercises you could try:
Stretching Exercise
Before beginning any exercises, we have to first stretch. This stretching exercise not only helps relax your body but you also learn to apply dynamics or expression into your movement.
Step 1:
Stand straight with your legs apart and bend down as if you are touching your toes. Keep the body relaxed.
Step 2:
Ask your teacher or a friend to start playing scales from the very bottom of the piano all the way to the top and back down again.
Step 3:
As the pitches go higher, move your body slowly upwards and stretch your arms above your head. As you go up, take a deep breath.
Step 4:
As the pitches go lower, move your body downwards and slowly exhale on the way down. This helps you in your breathing as well. Feel the tension of your body muscles as you go up and stretch your arms as well as relaxing yourself while coming down.
Learning How to Coordinate
This is a good way of learning how to coordinate not just by using your hands on the keyboard, but using your whole body to feel. Once you get the hang of it, coordination between the left hand and the right hand is easy-peasy. It is also a good way of improving your concentration.
Step 1:
Ask your teacher/friend to play one hand on the piano in either all minims, crotchets or quavers.
Step 2:
Listen to the rhythm of the music and each time your teacher/friend hits the note on the piano, take a step. For example, if your teacher/friend plays in crotchets, you'll find yourself walking with the music and if your teacher/friend plays in quavers, you'll find yourself running with the music. Take note of your body movement while doing this.
Step 3:
Once you are used to this exercise, bring it to the next level. This time ask your teacher/friend to play both hands with different note values each. It could be left hand in crotchets and right hand in quavers. Walk to the crotchets and clap with the quavers. You can alternate note values between both hands, that way you can learn how to coordinate using your hands and feet.
Bouncing the Ball
This is a method where you can feel where your beats are by bouncing your ball or throwing up into the air. While doing this exercise, notice how much energy you put into the ball to bounce and catch them at the same time together with the music. Apply the same energy into your playing, and you've got yourself playing perfect rhythm. This needs a lot of practice though, but once you've got it, you've got it!
Step 1:
Take a ball and ask your teacher/friend to play a simple piece that is either in 2/4, 3/4, or 4/4 time.
Step 2:
In 2/4 time, when the piece of music is in its first beat bounce the ball onto the floor, it has to bounce at the same time when the music is in the first beat. At the second beat, catch the ball. Again it has to be at the same time when the music is in the second beat. Repeat the process until the piece has ended.
Step 3:
In 3/4 time, repeat the process of the first beat, but this time make the ball bounce higher so that at the second beat of the music, the ball is in the air. At the third beat, catch the ball. Repeat the process until the piece has ended.
Step 4:
In 4/4 time, it is the same process of the first beat, but at the second beat, catch the ball. At the third beat, throw the ball into the air and at the fourth beat, catch the ball.
Step 5:
Once you are used to these simple pieces, ask your teacher/friend to play a harder piece and see if you can make out what time signature it is.
These are just some basic exercises you can try with your friend or your teacher. Here is a video on a few more exercise you can try out too!
Video taken from "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olyr3bOQUHw"