When Srila Prabhupada gave me my first mrdanga lesson, he told me to pronounce each beat as I played it. I learned to copy the sound my fingers made striking the drum skin. The vocals were “gee-ta-ta, gee-ta-ta, gee-ta-ta, gee-ta; kee-ta-ta, kee-ta-ta, kee-ta-ta, kee-ta-ta, kee-ta.” The “gees” and “kees” simulated the beats on the large end, and the “ta’s” imitated the three- and one- finger strikes on the small end.