When you're listening to a song, you may start tapping your foot or nodding your head to the beat. This beat is referred to as the pulse, what you count to when playing the song. Start by just finding this beat and tapping along with it. Often, the even beats are given an extra thump or sound, particularly in rock or pop music. So for instance, you may be hearing "thump, thump, thump, thump" as the beat, but then on top of that, you hear an extra bit on some beats, such as "pa-thump, thump, pa-thump, thump. Many times, the first beat in the measure will be given a stronger emphasis, so try to listen for that, as well. Even though the drums will often hit the even beats, other instruments in the song may hit the backbeats or the odd beats. So while you may hear a more solid thudding on the even beats, listen for the other beats to have emphasis elsewhere. For instance, you may hear chord changes on the first beat of most measures. Alternatively, you may hear other changes, like melody movement or harmony changes. Often, the first note of the measure is where major changes in the song happen. It can help to listen for strong and weak notes. For instance, the beats for duple time (2/4 and 6/8), are strong-weak. The beats for triple time (3/4 and 9/8), are strong-weak-weak, while for quadruple time (4/4 or 'C' for common time and 12/8), they're strong-weak-medium-weak. For instance, you may notice beats are grouped in 2s, 3s, or 4s. Count the beats out if you can. Listen for the first beat in each measure, then count out the notes, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3, etc., until you hear the first beat of the next measure. If you are hearing 4 strong beats in a measure, you likely have a 4/4 time signature as that's the most common in pop, rock, and other popular music. Remember, the bottom "4" tells you the quarter note gets the beat, and the top "4" tells you that you have 4 beats in each measure. If you feel 2 strong beats but also hear notes in triples behind it, you might have a 6/8 time, which is counted in 2s but each one of those beats can be divided into 3 eighth notes. 2/4 time is most often used in polkas and marches. You may hear "om-pa-pa, om-pa-pa" in this type of song, where the "om" is a quarter note on the first beat and the "pa-pa" is 2 eighth notes on the second beat. Another possibility is 3/4, which is often used in waltzes and minuets. Here, you'll hear 3 beats in the measure, but you won't hear the triplets you do in 6/8 (a triplet is 3 eighth notes).
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One-sentence summary -- Start by finding the main pulse or beat. See if you can hear an emphasis on certain beats from the percussion. Listen for the backbeats to have an emphasis from other instruments. Check for major changes on the first beat of the measure. Try to hear how the beats are grouped based on the cues. Choose the most likely time signature for the song.

Treat yourself to something special and maybe even a little decadent on your birthday morning. Even if you have to get to work, spend a little extra time making yourself something special, such as French Toast. If you made your preparations the night before, it should be a snap to whip the dish up quickly. Even if you're just a toast-and-coffee-in-the-morning type, treat yourself to a better brew than you normally drink in the morning. ake some time to enjoy the outdoors on your birthday. As much of your day as possible should be an escape from the regular routine of your life. In your quest to make the most of your birthday, consider finding ways to get outside to enjoy the escape that nature can offer. Exercise and fresh air can help rejuvenate you, and can provide you with a chance to reflect upon your year. Consider going for a jog around town or on a nearby nature trail, or even a longer hike. You're sure to have a good time on your favorite path or trail, but think about exploring new territory if at all possible. You may also want to go for a bike ride or just a stroll around town. If you don't own a bike and you live in a city, look to see if there are any bike-share programs near you, which are becoming increasingly common and which offer a cheap way to see the sites. What is your dream date? A cozy evening spent on the couch watching old movies and eating your favorite take-out? A leisurely afternoon spent at the museum? Shopping all day? Dinner at the best place in town? Your solo birthday should be about you doing exactly what you want to do, so whether you decide to stay in or go out, be sure to choose a fun or relaxing activity of some sort. Because the day is completely yours, you don't have to worry about accommodating anyone else's tastes or preferences! One of the best things about your birthday is that you get to decide what will be on the menu for your meals. Of course, this is how it should be, but if we're celebrating with other people, we may feel pressured to tailor the selections to the other people at the dinner table. If you're celebrating alone, though, you are in ultimate control! If you want to eat birthday cake and nothing else for dinner, then no one will stop you! If you enjoy spending time in the kitchen, try your hand at such comforting classics as sweet potatoes and pot roast. You could also record one of your favorite cooking shows in advance and try out a new recipe; cook along with the host and it will feel like a party (especially if you cook with a glass of wine!). If you don't feel like cooking or don't have the time, you can order in or go to your favorite restaurant. Be sure that you're ordering something you want and enjoytoday is all about you! No birthday celebration is complete without some sort of treat. If you don't want to be tempted by having an entire birthday cake sitting on the counter all week, stop by a local bakery and pick up decadent cupcake or two. You can even have them pipe "Happy Birthday" in icing on top. If baking is your thing, treat yourself to a made-from-scratch dessert such as cheesecake or French apricot tart. If you'd rather go out and get a dessert, you can! If you're eating out for dinner as well, considering choosing a place that has a great dessert menu (don't be shy to let your server know that it's your birthdayyou may get dessert on the house), but it could be fun to go someplace else for dessert and coffee or wine. If sweets aren't your thing, then choose a nice cheese platter with a great wine pairing, or anything that you consider to be a treat that you wouldn't eat every day. If you're celebrating your birthday alone because you're physically separated from your friends and family, this would be an excellent time to FaceTime or Skype with them. Put a candle on your dessert and let someone else sing "Happy Birthday" to you. As your solo birthday winds down, find a way to relax and pamper yourself just a bit more. Take a steamy shower or a long soak in the tub. Think about purchasing a super-soft, relaxing, new pair of pajamas as one of your presents to yourself. Hopefully today was one of your best birthdays yet!
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One-sentence summary --
Have a special breakfast. . Be your own date. Eat whatever you want for dinner. Select a special treat for dessert. Unwind and relax before bed.