What is Counting Aloud?

Counting Aloud is a set of four compact discs. The first disc counts measures of two beats, the second disc counts three-beat measures, the third disc counts four-beat measures, and the fourth disc counts six-beat measures.

Unlike a metronome, which merely ticks, Counting Aloud counts each beat aloud by spoken number. And instead of using a mechanical, synthetic voice, the Counting Aloud discs were professionally recorded using a live human being's voice counting aloud every beat of every tempo of every meter. Post-production work ensured that the counting occurs exactly on each beat, and that the recording is of the highest quality.

In addition, Counting Aloud's spoken voice emphasizes the primary and secondary beats of each measure. At slower tempos, Counting Aloud includes verbalized beat divisions, such as "one-an, two-an" for two parts, or "One-i-ly, two-i-ly" for three parts. The result is a counting aid that is superior to the conventional metronome, and pleasing to the ear.

Listen to audio clips from the Counting Aloud CDs.

How is Counting Aloud Used?

Counting Aloud is easy to use. Simply insert the appropriate disc into your CD player and select the track which counts the division and tempo of your choice. By setting your CD player to repeat a track, you can practice at a specific tempo indefinitely. And since the tracks on each CD are ordered from slowest tempo to fastest, simply playing them in order allows you to master difficult passages at slow tempos and work your way up to performance speed.

Counting Aloud is an invaluable tool for music teachers and their students, allowing teachers to teach while students play in time. Counting Aloud's verbal identification of each beat and lack of hesitation enables students to play properly in time, recognize their errors and correct them. Beginning at tempo 20, students can eliminate all hesitation and attain performance tempo easily as the counting tempo automatically increases. When students practice at home, Counting Aloud acts as a between-lesson-tutor for those who have a teacher and provides invaluable assistance to those learning music on their own.

What Kind of CD Player is Required?

Counting Aloud can be used on virtually any CD player, including inexpensive, portable "boom boxes." A track repeat feature is useful for repeating a given tempo indefinitely.

What Tempos Are Supported?

Counting Aloud counts in tempos from 20 to 140 beats per minute, in 2, 3, 4 and 6-beat measures. At tempos of 50 bpm and slower, beats are divided and spoken as either doublets ("one an, two an") or triplets ("one-i-ly, two-i-ly"). This makes it easier for students to feel the beat even at the slow tempos required for learning, and helps students learn the concepts of beat division verbalization.

How Can Students Increase the Tempo of Their Performance?

Because each successive track on a Counting Aloud CD seamlessly and gradually increases the tempo, Counting Aloud makes it easy for students to learn a piece at a slow tempo, then gradually increase the tempo to performance speed.

The first set of tracks count in triplets ("one-i-ly, two-i-ly") from tempos 20 to 50; each track increasing the tempo by 5 beats per minute . The next set of tracks count in doublets ("one-an, two-an") from tempos 20 to 50, increasing by 5 beats per minute. This is followed by tracks that count in singlets or, without beat divisions ("one, two") from 50 to 140, where each track increases the tempo by 10 beats per minute.

What About Other Meters?

Although not explicitly provided, measures of nine beats can be counted using the three-beat triplet tracks. That is, "one-i-ly, two-i-ly, three-i-ly," instead of "one-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight-nine." Similarly, measures of 12 beats can be counted using the four-beat triplet tracks.

What is the Duration of Each Track?

That depends on the tempo and meter. For two-beat measures, slower tempos consist of 54 measures; faster tempos consist of 102 measures. The three-beat tracks consist of 36 or 68 measures. Four-beat tracks have 27 or 51 measures, and the six-beat tracks are 18 or 34 measures in length. Virtually any CD player can repeat a given track, permitting a given tempo to be repeated indefinitely.