Counting (music)

In music, counting is repeatedly adding one (counting), or multiples of some other number, so as to assist with the performance or audition of music. Counting is most commonly used with rhythm and form and often involves subdivision.

The method involving numbers may termed count chant, "to identity it as a unique instructional process."

Example of "count chant" method

Triple meter, such as 3/4, is often counted 1 2 3, while compound meter, such as 6/8, is often counted in two and subdivided "One-and-ah-Two-and-ah" but may be articulated as "One-la-lee-Two-la-lee". For each subdivision employed a new syllable is used. For example, sixteenth notes in 4/4 are counted 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a, using numbers for the quarter note, "&" for the eighth note, and "e" and "a" for the sixteenth note level. "However the counting may be syllabized, the important skill is to keep the pulse steady and the division exact."

Rather than numbers, nonsense syllables or a random word may be assigned to a rhythm such that a triplet subdivision is often counted "tri-pl-et". The Kodály Method uses "Ta" for quarter notes and "Ti-Ti" for eighth notes. For sextuplets simply say triplet twice (see Sextuplet rhythm.png), while quintuplets may be articulated as "un-i-vers-i-ty". In some approaches, "rote-before-note", the fractional definitions of notes are not taught to children until after they are able to perform syllable or phrase-based versions of these rhythms.