How do you count music while playing?

Question

I play the flute at school. During a song I can count while I'm resting, because I somehow say the number in my mind. However when I'm playing I always loose the beat, because I can't count in my mind while play my flute. Tapping doesn't help because I find myself unable to remember on which beat of a measure I am. For example I don't realize if I'm on beat 3 or 4. When i play a song, I just count the number of beats each note has and play it. However I can't count the whole measure so I count each note separately. So let's say that i have a half note and 4 quarter notes. The way I count is like this: 1 and 2 (half note finishes) and 1 and 2( the 4 quarter notes finish) How could I learn how to count while playing??

PS: I'm playing flute for 3 yrs.

Answer 1

Personally I Don't Do That.

If You Have A Natural Beat, You Can Figure Out When You Need To Come In.

It Sounds Like You Do, But You Haven't Perfected It!

Don't Worry! I Was Like That, Eventually You Get A Natural Rhythm, As You Begin To Get More Comfortable With Playing The Flute.

I Play The Violin And Passed Grade 8 With Merit, And I've Never Had To Count In My Head.

It Sounds Like It Confuses Your Head As It Would Confuse Mine, So I Would Recommend You Not Counting In Your Head.

Hope That Helps.

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Answer 2

When I play, I just tap my foot so I know when the note will come in. I don't count the beats when I am playing. It doesn't really make a difference if you know the exact beat of the measure you are on, as long as you know when the note comes in. That's why tapping my foot helps me. If you don't try and worry about counting, and you know the rythym good, it just comes natural.

Answer 3

It's something you'll just need to practice and get through over time.

No one is truly unable -- it's just a matter of training your mind to count correctly and on the beat.  Yes, it will take a while.  But it's not that you can't -- it's that you need to dedicate yourself to learning to count.  

Just keep working on it.  Start slow with simple songs, and gain experience that way.  It does get easier over time, and as long as you actually put effort into it, it will be second nature before long.

Answer 4

When I'm playing and I have a 8 measure rest. I'll multiply that by the time like 4/4. Which means I would have 32 rests. Ususally I'll count on my fingers every 4. Meaning one, two, three, four, one two, three, four, two, two  and etc. That helps also write in your music how many rest you have. And before you come in, write which part is before you, so if the trumpets come in 3 beats before you, I'd write, trumpet 3 b4. That really helps me.

For eighth notes, I subdivide, in my head, I say one and two and three and four and. I say that in my head.

Have you tried tapping your foot? that'll fix the problem pretty sure. Since I go to so many honor bands, and it drives some conductors up the wall, I'll tap my toe if I'm wearing covered shoes. Keep on praticing, you'll get it

Answer 5

This is what my professor told me when I was working on my Master's degree in performance, and so now I tell this to all my students.  (I'm a music teacher)

Starting with easy music, get to where you can count just quarter notes in your head the whole time.  So in 4/4 time, I think 1, 2, 3, 4, no matter what rhythm I have.  Quarters - 1,2,3,4  Half, quarter quarter = 1 2 3 4   I just hold for 2, then play on 3 and 4.  Then when you get to eighth notes, you play one on the beat and one after.  I also tap my foot so the down up down up motion is eighth notes.  Down is on the beat and up is off the beat.  

Yes, I was in college and was playing professionally already, but when my professor told me this, it was like something finally clicked, and rhythm got a lot easier.  I did have to practice to make it a habit, and practicing with a metronome will do wonders.

Answer 6

Make it natural. Just listen to the tempo and the beat will become predictable. Follow it.