I am having a hard time counting music and staying on beat in my clogging class...someone help me!?

Question

I am having a hard time counting music and staying on beat in my clogging class...someone help me!?

Answer 1

Clogging is all about the beat.  I'm a tap dancer which is similar, I'll try to help.  

It's all about musicality.  If I were you, I would take time out of each day to "study" music, and practice your "ear."  Listen to all kinds of music, especially clogging music.  Try and tap your foot steadily to the downbeat...meaning 1,2,3,4 etc.....Once you get that down, you can continue tapping on the downbeat, but start clapping on the upbeat...meaning the AND part in between.  So it'd be like this...

1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4...etc  or  Tap clap Tap clap Tap clap, etc.  

If you're still having trouble, you might want to purchase a metronome.  This is a neat little device that keeps the time for you, and it's great to practice with.  Just focus on staying with the beat.  Don't get ahead or drag behind it....feel the music and let it move through you.

Good luck!