How to properly use a metronome in your practice!

Sat Jul 9 2022 at 11 AM PDT

Event by Team

https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/how-to-metronome-dominic

The metronome is a critical tool in practice but should always be used in the proper way! Let's talk about the best uses, for this popular device!

Find the start time in your time zone by clicking the photo or following this event link:

https://app.tonebase.co/piano/live/player/how-to-metronome-dominic

We are going to be using this thread to gather suggestions and questions!

What questions do you have on this topic?
Any particular area you would like me to focus on?

- rebecca_LAM
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I have a really hard time using the metronome even in pieces that I am very comfortable with. And once I am off the timing, then I am unsure how to “catch up” or whether I should restart. I also found it hard to play at my goal tempo with metronome even after I can play it at that speed for a while.
I would like to know at what stage of learning a piece should you be using the metronome.

Thanks again for your wonderful teaching.
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  rebecca LAM I always suggest to my students to practice with the Metronome in short sections. The problem is that some parts might be ok at a certain speed and some other parts might still need some work. Whenever you have all the sections at the same then I would try to speed up all the parts together. Sometimes practicing with the Metronome is very useful also to keep yourself slow :)
- rebecca_LAM
  
  3 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Antonella Di Giulio thanks so much for the advice. I will try that.
- It’s never to late to start loving music
- ignazioc_tonebase
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I'm a beginner, learning my first pieces. The teacher said that I play "robotic" when I use the metronome, putting an accent on each beat.
- Classical Pianist and Music Theorist
  
  dr_AntonellaDiGiulio
  
  3 yrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  ignazio student The accent on each beat has to do with how we move our hands on the piano, not do much with the Metronome. Try to "walk" on your fingers... I always tell to my students that the difference between playing well and bouncing can be compared with walking normally and walking while bouncing up and down :)
- Angela_Fogg
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I will look forward to catching up with this one!
- Starving Artist
- charlie_g
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Can’t wait for this one. I use the metronome nearly every day, mostly for continuity (my signature weakness). Also to expose problem sequences. In the two-week intensive on scales I’ve been using it for the grouping drills (in 4/4 time I play the groups on the pickup half-beat leading to beats 1 and 3). I’m sure there are many other ways to use the metronome, and I’m eager to hear about them.
- aliceyip
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Beethoven 2nd Movement Difficulties

(1) In D Flat Major section, it's difficult for me to coordinate well with metronome. I tend to build up tensions when I play the whole passage with left-hand crossing and it becomes difficult to coordinate well(and to not miss notes).
(2) It is so difficult for me to control the steady tempo even with metronome.
- Royhj
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I always wanted a metronome that will play beats with some randomness, not to the speed, but to playing the beats. 4/4 for example, could play for the first few bars normally, then switch to 3 random beats per bar, then two... event dropping a whole bar once a while.
- Brian_Buchbinder
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
I use the metronome mostly not to speed up, but to keep myself from rushing in practice.
- Rui
- 3 yrs ago
- Reported - view
Hi Dominic, I think the audio volume was a lower than usual on this livestream.