strathspey@strathspey.org:24504

Patricia Ruggiero

RE: Counting

Jan. 24, 2001, 11:06 p.m. (Message 24504)

cece wrote:
"they would have to be inserting the 4th count as an "uh" or something
equivalent."

Well, some do and some don't.  More to the point, however, is that quicktime
dances, whether reels or jigs, have two beats to the bar, not four.   The
count is "1 and 2 and."

As I understand counting in music, whole numbers (1,2,3,4) indicate the
beats, while an "and" indicates the subdivision of a beat.  Thinking that a
count of 1-2-3-4 (or 1-2-3-uh) is the same thing as "1 and 2 and" is wrong
because the former implies 4 beats to the bar for a quicktime tune.

If we learn that in quicktime music there are two beats per bar, and if we
learn that one pdb occupies one bar of music, we can conclude that a pdb is
executed over two beats of music.  Then we hear a teacher counting the step
in 4s.  To me, this does not make musical sense; but if I think in terms of
footfalls, then it does make sense.

On the other hand, it is true that teachers give the correct vocal
inflection to their counting, suggesting lift and downbeat in the
appropriate places, training the dancers to *dance* and not merely plod 4
steps to the bar.  So the *sound* is right, but the *words* are wrong.

I'll add here that I had the devil of a time figuring out the RSCDS "Ready,
And..." because I thought that the "And" was supposed to indicate the up
beat (as in 8 AND.).  In reality "Ready, And" marks out the beats 7 and 8,
and both words must be spoken in a *down* tone.  The following  "and" of
"8-and" is implied; if one were to say it aloud, it  must be said in an *up*
tone.  The entire oral sequence would be: "Ready, And-and," meaning "7,
8-and," and inflected as "down, down-up."  It's on that last "and" (of
8-and) that we spring into action.

And additionally:
>skip-change is hop-1-2-3 >

The hop is the "and" from the preceding bar.  That's why it is correct to
say that the skip-change begins with a hop and that the count is either:
"hop 1 and 2" or "and 1 and 2."

> i always object when a teacher says that skip-change "starts with the
right foot" and then proceeds to hop on the left and stick his right one out
in front.>

Regarding the entire paragraph -- I couldn't agree more.

Pat