Meditation techniques for beginners? As a beginning meditator, the techniques I typically use are:


Counting breaths, restarting at 10 (learned in Japan).
Envisioning, with warm feelings, all of my friends and family around me in a large circle (learned in Florida).
Attempting to feel the minute sensations from each different part of my body (learned in Florida). 
Focusing on identifying as many distinct sounds as possible, particularly when in nature (my own).


Are there any other techniques recommended for beginning meditators?
Counting breaths on phalanges (with thumb) - up to 12*12=144.
"Tonglen": breathing in all the suffering of the world, breathing out happiness.
Gladdening one's mind through "noble" posture and facial expression.
Zen-style. Just sitting, no matter what happens. "Don't go with the thoughts, don't go against the thoughts".
Energy. Identify blobs of emotional energy on and around body and dismiss.
Minimizing the amplitude. Watch the diaphragm when breath reverses direction and keep reducing the tension/effort.
Bowing meditation (aka half-prostration).
Bamboo meditation. Stand up with eyes closed and slowly rock back and forth while focusing on the centers of the feet.
Dahnmu (energy dance). Stand up with eyes closed and move freely as your body wants expressing yourself.