Knowing how to read and count rhythms is helpful. So is playing other instruments like guitar, bass, piano, and being able to sing.
I took a lot of theory and musicianship in college, too, which was challenging for me, but cleared up a lot things, like chord progressions for example, of which I had awareness but not understanding. I remember the first time I could hear chord movement, understand it, and sometimes even know chords instantly, or figure them out quickly on the piano.
Plus, I've done a lot of orchestral/legit percussion, musicals, big band chart reading, which is all count, count, count. And I've had to memorize long recital pieces. I also teach several days a week, and write on forums
, and that forces me to verbalize what's in my head, resulting in an even greater understanding.
It's hard to tease apart, but all that stuff is swimming around my head, making endless connections when I listen to or learn a song. Sometimes too much. I'm in the dentist office, listening to muzak and thinking, "this song has a 2/4 bar in the chorus, or that's a 1,6,2,5 turnaround. Wow, Rudolph the Red Nose Reinder is AABA... etc."
Some songs I can learn instantly, some after a few listens, some stuff is much harder, like soloistic stuff, that requires laborious transcribing.
I'm just endlessly fascinated by music, as many of you are, and that has driven me to check out a wide variety of music and investigate its traditions. So, do I count? Yes, but I also have about a thousand other guideposts to go by.