Piano Lesson - How to Figure Out Rhythms: Counting

I'm Robert Estrin. The subject today is about how to figure out rhythms by counting. It's essential to count rhythms so you know the timing of a piece of music. There's a lot that we can talk about here. The number one fundamental is understanding time signatures. Time signatures tell you how to count a piece in the first place! What's counting all about? Well, a carpenter has a tape measure right on their belt. They check their work constantly by measuring. The way we measure in music is by counting.
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[@ValConB]

Never hurts to get a refresher - thank you!

[@keys6]

Excellent lesson... i use 1 e + a 2 e + a ... etc... easier to say... great video!!! Very clear especially for beginners...thank you😊

[@laenga6044]

Thank you for this amazing video, I've understood about keeping the count no matter the time signature. God bless. And let us trust in Jesus.

[@vimamipri2312]

I learned to use the word ta-te-ti for 3 notes, ta-fa-te-fe for 4 notes, ta-fa-te-fe-ti-fi for 6 notes and ta-fa-te-fe-ti-fi-to-fo for 8 notes. This is a much simpler method than pronouncing one/a/a/a/ two, etc. And can be extended to,say, 16 notes, counting twice the eigth sequence,etc.Of course the idea is the same. Great video

[@JaxonBurn]

Minuet in G is actually by Christian Petzold

[@acexprt]

We use “E” and “ah” for 1/16th notes .so counting out you would say “1 E and and ah 2 E and ah 3 E and ah 4 E and ah. Much easier to pronounce when trying to teach or explain the beats.

[@LivingPianosVideos]

Either way is fine.

[@sparklingwiggle]

Same

[@briancamcginn]

I use this method as well.

[@enthusedtosing9655]

"a and a" expresses the concept better I think.. At the beginning I thought "what is an "e" doing among the a's??", with 1-a-a(nd)-a no such problem.

[@keys6]

This is how I do it... e was easier to say that a!

[@johanbrand8601]

This was just what I needed as someone who really struggles with rhythm and counting. I can always learn something on this channel.

[@audreyschley8517]

Awesome. Counting remains a challenge sometimes. I like your approach. Thanks

[@jacquelineusher5313]

Hello Robert, thank you for the lesson, I learned something new. Love your videos...

[@tonyping2262]

This has been extremely helpful! Not for me but for my students and finding ways to explain rhythm to beginner students so that they understand!🙂

[@garycitro1674]

It gets tricky when you do it from a math perspective, because the basis is the whole note. It's hard to explain that eighth notes get a half a beat each. I used to use a pizza example with colored felt. The whole pizza is a whole note, each slice are eighth notes. If more people are coming over and you're too cheap to buy another Pizza, you cut the eight slices in half and you get 16th notes.

[@brendaboykin3281]

Super helpful and informative, Maestro Robert🌹🌹🌹

[@jayannbee89]

Thanks for reinforcing this. Very useful.

[@almur88]

please do the video on complex ones! especially those Chopin 11 or 14 legato notes in one passage, I'm perplexed beyond measure

[@colettescobie1878]

super thanks!

[@jesushong]

Thank you so much... this was very helpfull!

[@mfurman]

Very good primer. Thank you

[@sunving]

Thank you very much

[@LastCast2011]

loved it, thank you!

[@NA-og2qi]

🎉Thanks!!!❤

[@ikbelsoua]

Hi Robert. Thank you for the very informative video. Could you please make a video explaining the rythm in passacaglia and fugue BWV 582. How do I count it.

[@jacquelineusher5313]

Good question, I like that one too.

[@kristinajohansson5099]

When I was a child I was teach to count ”Ta - ta te - tavateve and for tripletts tateti. Never heard anyone do it. Have asked and didn´t find anyone knowing it.

[@whatzause]

I really had trouble getting Grieg's "Sheperd Boy" right, with those 8-groups in some measures. (As I remember it there were 8, but I think you'll know what I'm talking about.) That was tough. Right?

[@MichaelDHockenberry]

So the “And a” pertains to a note to be played and also a space “no note” ?

[@LivingPianosVideos]

The "and" is for eighth notes if you are in 4/4 time. If there are only quarter notes in some places, you would still say the "and".

[@garycitro1674]

There are also speech systems for you to speak rhythms. Typically in school they use "tah" for quarter note, ti-ti for eighth notes, ti-ri-ti-ri for 16ths. One of the most interesting things you'll ever hear in music is the system used in India, where they speak the sounds of the drums in rhythm, then play them. Here is an example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaTZfISehMqEoLM

[@Nick-ui9dr]

Leo abkil rythm batane aaye gaye... Chalo phir batao sir ji.. intresting subject hai.😀

[@calvinhu8922]

Can you teach me how to play the music at the end of your video, can you make a sheet music and teach us how to play that

[@LivingPianosVideos]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2O8XotvrtBqidk

[@fightingforfreedom5017]

Did you ever make a video how to hold your hands while playing? My teacher says I do it totally wrong. To much tense in the shoulders, wrists and hands. In a later stage it will give injuries and you never be able to play fast. He told me how to do it in the right way and I have to practice that. Now I’m very curious what’s your opinion about that. ‘Cause there seems a lot of discussions about the hands curved as if you are holding a ball. He told me to curve the hand round so you can see the three knuckles of your hand. With the tip of your fingers you touch the keys. You dropping your hand on the key’s, a movement from out the wrist, than you raise your wrist up again to the rounded position. In that way you played the key the fullest, completely and correct, not in a sloppy half way.

[@LivingPianosVideos]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZq4h2Cur62beK8

[@sm-mrcd]

You said that on 3/4 there are 3 beats on a measure and quarter note getting one beat. But I saw someone saying that 9/8 has 3 beats, why is that?

[@LivingPianosVideos]

3/4 time typically has 3 quarter notes which divide into 2 eighth notes to each beat. 9/8 typically has three dotted quarter notes in each measure each of which having 3 eighth notes.

[@sm-mrcd]

@@LivingPianosVideos thanks for the response! I appreciate it so much

[@MichaelDHockenberry]

Some women seem to have this down perfectly…

[@AtomizedSound]

HA

[@sparklingwiggle]

🥁😆