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Let's take Bach's Minuet in G major (3/4 time)

The first 2 bars...
Do you count it aloud..

1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 &
or
1 2 & 3 & 1 2 3

As a beginner I find it much easier to only count when I'm playing a note. Any pros and cons?

I usually tap my foot and count 1, 2, 3, 4 in my head. I don't say and in my head as it messes me up. If I have eighth notes I just play them on the downs and ups of my foot. This is how I've always done it.

I'd count 1 & 2 & 3 & in my head while tapping 1 2 3 with my foot/nodding my head… if it's not too fast.

I'd count

1, 2 & 3 & 1, 2, 3, and similarly would be tapping my heel, till the flow had 'bedded down'. Sometimes, if there's a rest, I'll say (mentally at least!) "rest" at the appropriate points.

I count in my own language so no &s necessary. But one should count the beats, not the notes, since the idea of counting is to get the rhythm and understand the pulse of the piece.

Yes. This.

I start to run out of breathe after awhile! lol
My teacher wants me to count aloud (which I agree with).

But damn if there are a lot of 8th and 16th notes... that's a whole lotta 1 e & a 2 e & a

I count in my head. It works better, because I have a tendency to unconsciously start following (singing) the melody while counting...sounds ridiculous and at some points I ran out of range

Definitely a job for the left legl. And the head if you want to look groovy. . .

As long as the main beat is steady, I don't think it matters whether you add the 'ands' or not. I'd do whatever keeps you at an even pulse.

I do the latter of the two. For example, 1 2and 3and 1 2 3. Subdividing every beat seems tedious.

If I count at all I have to do the first method to keep each note the correct length.

For me it's more like Ti dadadada Fi da da (with the right pitches along with them). That's for the right hand.

I'd count it the second way.
1 2 & 3 & | 1 2 3

If the measures had more syncopation, I'd count every beat to get a feeling of where every beat was.



(A little off topic...It took me a minute to notice that the music was Minuet in G which I am currently learning on guitar. LOL)

As a beginner, we don't count at all, just play! OK, just kidding, but not really. How many times have we played something without counting knowing we should. Yeah. The great thing about this piece (shows how Bach's wife Anna or family friend Christian is a genius) is that it basically counts itself as you're playing establishing rhythm early on.

For this piece and any pieces really, you must count all the beats. You cannot count just the beats with music. Silent moments are part of the music! I don't always count, but would always still count the moments without notes. If you only count when there is music, your rhythm would be incorrect guaranteed especially when the music gets harder.

You should count 1&, 2&, 3&, 1&, 2&, 3&, out loud, even if you get tired especially when there is no music; very important to know the length of the silent air between notes.

Once you got the counting of 1&,2&,3& down, you may want to try counting loud,soft,soft, loud,soft,soft, especially when practicing the left hands alone.

The most important thing to do for this piece is to lift your hands completely at the end of each measure before starting the next measure. You want a very clean sound between measures and not have any notes held down (legato) from the end of one measure into the next.

True, but you only need to count 1e&a, 2e&a... when you're learning a new piece. After a bit, you could drop the e a and count 1&, 2&... then eventually drop the & and just count 1,2,3,....

Thanks everyone. Lots of good advice.