How to properly use a metronome in your practice!
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?
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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 ācatch upā 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.-
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 :)
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Antonella Di Giulio thanks so much for the advice. I will try that.
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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.
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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 :)
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I will look forward to catching up with this one!
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Canāt 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 Iāve 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). Iām sure there are many other ways to use the metronome, and Iām eager to hear about them.
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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.Reply -
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.
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I use the metronome mostly not to speed up, but to keep myself from rushing in practice.
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Hi Dominic, I think the audio volume was a lower than usual on this livestream.
