Well – it doesn’t have to be LOUD, just audible. The practice of counting out loud will help in developing your ability to sing while playing the drums.

More importantly – counting out loud helps to keep your breathing regular. Breathing is VERY important to maintaining a steady tempo.

When your breathing is irregular – such as holding your breath during fills – your muscles tense up due to the lack of oxygen . . . and your tempo fluctuates. You physically can't hold your breath and count out loud at the same time - so your much less likely to develop the bad habits that ultimately screw up your timekeeping.

This is something I have talked about before. The trick is to keep breathing! It is a really bad habit that I have worked hard to make sure my students don’t fall into.