Counting out loud and using a metronome serve different functions. Counting out loud teaches you how to apply the right amount of time to each different type of note. The metronome helps you count without missing a beat. It is true you can us a metronome to help you keep the rhythm steady, but if you don't continue your habit and knowledge of counting, you wont' know how to play a song, even with a metronome. A metronome is an excellent tool to keep your counting and playing steady. I am sorry, but a metronome alone will not teach you how many beats to apply to a note. You might think you are matching the beat to the metronome, but you might be matching the wrong notes to the Continue Reading
Why Can’t I Count in my Head?
Because I said so! ~wink~ Just kidding. There is an interesting phenomena that happens when you count in your head rather than count out loud. I have been teaching for 25 years now and I have seen this certain phenomena happen 100% of the time with all my students. What is this phenomena? Time after time, when I ask a student to play their assignment for me, I ask them if they practiced it counting out loud, and of course the answer is always "yes". So, I let them play the song counting in their head, while listening to the irregular rhythm. After they complete the song, I ask them to play it again, counting out loud and to my amazement... every time... they rhythm is Continue Reading
Why Count Out Loud?
Why do I stress counting out loud? If you started the free lessons, you will notice right away that counting out loud is a very important skill to develop right from the beginning. Counting out loud while you are playing develops rhythm, coordination, and prepares you for doing even more complicated tasks all at the same time. Many students think it's OK not to count and to learn the notes first, then add the counting later. Take it from a teacher who has been teaching for 25 years... IT DOES NOT WORK! You will end up learning the rhythm wrong if you don't count, therefore when you add the counting AFTER you learn the song, it's too late. The purpose of counting is to get the Continue Reading
The “Tick-Tock” Counting Method
In the beginning of my curriculum, (in the free lessons), you will see that I start you off by teaching you how to count rhythm. (See lesson 2) Traditionally, counting rhythm is counted by saying 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and etc... In the early stages of my lessons, I present a unique way to count, designed to help you count with a natural rhythm. This counting method is called the "Tick-Tock" Method. You will only use this method for a very short time before you start to count with the traditional 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. Why Tick-Tock? I used "tick-tock" because it is very hard to say "tick-tock" without adding rhythm. When we mimmick the ticking of a clock with out voice, we Continue Reading