ONE TWO THREE

This piece is a logical extension of the One Two piece. It proceeds in exactly the same way as 'One Two' except that the count is 1, 2, 3.

I THE set up is the same as for 'One Two' - the group should be seated in a circle.

II BEGIN with the first person saying "One". The next person says "Two" thereby setting the tempo, and the next person says "Three" maintaining the same speed.

III THE fourth person to join in says "One" at the same time as the first person repeats their One.

IV CONTINUE going around the circle in this way until everyone is saying One, Two, or Three. There should be an overall even pulse of "One" "Two"... "Three" ...

As with the One Two piece, it doesn't matter if the number of people in the group is not exactly divisible by 3.

changing beats

I WAIT until everyone is 'in' (saying One, Two or Three), and there is a strong even pulse.

II WHEN ready, change directly from your beat to the next one. If you are on One, the jump will be to Two, if on Two the jump will be to Three, and if on Three, jump back to One.

III WHEN changing from one beat to another, stay on the new beat for at least one restatement of it. (NOTE: spoken beats are underlined) FROM 1 TO 2.

 

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

 

FROM 2 TO 3.

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

 

FROM 3 TO 1

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

 

IV THE quickest way to change from a One to a Two to a Three and back to One is like this:

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1

 

ONE TWO THREE FOUR

I This can be done simply, in exactly the same way as 'One Two Three'. This is the quickest way to change from One through Two, Three, Four and back again: [NOTE: spoken beats are underlined]

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 etc...

 

II Alternatively we can introduce the concept of onbeats and offbeats within a bar ( measure of four beats). Beats One and Three are the onbeats, and beats Two and Four are the offbeats. If you want to change from an onbeat to an offbeat, you must 'land on' (or restate) the next onbeat before you change. Similarly, when changing from an offbeat to an onbeat, you must state the next offbeat before 'landing'

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
onbeats
offbeats
onbeats
offbeats

 

The above diagram shows the quickest way of changing from One through Four.

CHECK

Any system of rules you want to invent to practise changing from one beat to another is fine - as long as you don't allow a continual restated pulse:

1 2 3 1 2 3 or 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

 

Make up your own exercises!