How to Count Out Loud in Most Music for the Piano

Learning to “count out loud” is one of the most impactful skills you can invest in as a pianist. As it turns out, there is a simple system you can use which applies to most piano music. In the video below, I explain this system and apply it to a variety of piano pieces at the intermediate level.

If you would like to see how this system applies to pieces at the beginner level, click here.

Video Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction & basic review

• 2:27 Bartók “Smooth Syncopations”

• 8:34 Burgmüller “Arabesque”

• 12:41 Clementi “Sonatina In C Major” (I)

• 17:22 Clementi “Sonatina In C Major” (II)

• 21:23 Clementi “Sonatina In C Major” (III)

• 23:55 Burgmüller “Ave Maria”

• 28:08 Beethoven “Minuet in C Major”

• 32:20 Grieg “Arietta”

• 35:59 Burgmüller “The Storm”

• 40:41 Chopin “Prelude No. 4 In E Minor”

• 48:25 Gurlitt “Impromptu”

• 52:34 Beethoven “Sonata No. 20 in G Major”

• 56:54 Chopin "Waltz in A Minor"

Sheet Music:

If you would like to practice along with the video, here are the public domain scores that I used.

Need Help?

The Flex Lessons Piano Academy includes lessons, slow practice demonstrations, and performance examples for all of these pieces (and dozens more). Click here to learn more!