While we’re used to thinking about our tools as our harp and the tuning wrench, we have other tools too. Some we use more than others – electronic tuner, nail clippers, splines, music stand (and music) and more. And then there are the tools we have but we resist using – like a recorder…or a metronome!
Why do we resist using these tools? Usually because we think (or we’re fairly sure) we’re not going to like what we learn when we use them. It always feels like they are scolding us!
The metronome seems to hold pride of place as the most hated tool we have. And I get that. My parents gave me my metronome when I was a tween a million years ago when studying piano. It is a glorious wooden-cased Seth-Thomas. But as much as I love that thing, I have hated it for years. I was always late. Or early. Or just couldn’t get the subdivision right. Or I was so busy just trying to “hit the tick” that I’d forget to play. And snaps? Just wasn’t happening.*
So many mistakes – so very frustrating!
And I know I wasn’t the only one. In fact, I’m writing this because one of you asked! It is easy to feel like the metronome is not just a foe, but a diabolical one!
As “basic” as a metronome is, a lot of people don’t know how to use one. And that’s exactly part of the problem. After all it’s easy, right? All of this will apply regardless of your choice of metronome. Electronic or mechanical, they all do the same thing.
- What is a metronome? A metronome is…(drumroll)… a glorified clock. No, really. Ok, actually it’s a simplified clock. It measures time (that’s what “metronome” means). Just like a clock – but in the increments you might need.
- Why would you use one? A metronome is both regular and variable. Regular in that it will beat out the tempo you set. Variable in that you can change that tempo. Typically, the tick represents a quarter note. You can go slowly for laments (at about 40 beats per minute (bpm)) to reels (at about 125 bpm) to drum and bass (at about 180 bpm). But more importantly, it helps you to be less variable.
- How do you use it? The basics are, again, easy. You select a tempo and play along. Easy-peasy. But it’s not. My breakthrough came when I determined that I needed a tick for each subdivision rather than for each beat. Setting the tick as a quarter note was confusing to me – if I was subdividing (counting in “ands”) then I needed two ticks per beat (a tick for the “1” and another tick for the “and”, a tick for the “2” and another tick for the and, etc.). By adding these additional ticks, the metronome was ticking and tocking to match the way I was counting. It also acts as a regulator so all of the tune is even.
- When to use it? The best answer to when to use a metronome is – anytime! But how you use it may vary depending on when you are in the music. When you are just beginning and learning a piece, I’d suggest you don’t use it. At all. It’s too early, you’re probably barely hanging on to each note, the order they come, etc. You probably don’t have the brain space to add that level of precision counting! You can add the metronome in after you’ve gotten more comfortable with the music. Initially you might use a slow tempo to assure you’re getting the rhythms right. Once you’ve got that squared away, then you can gently increase the tempo to bring the tune up to speed. In this phase, at the tender tempo, you can assure that the tune is even throughout, that the trickier parts aren’t slowing you down, and that the end and the middle are as strong as the beginning. Then you can begin to approach the tempo noted. Go up in small steps (one notch at a time on a mechanical or 2 – 4 beats at a time on an electronic) and as soon as anything is out of whack, slow down a little and approach the speed again (I go back 3 increments when I make an error). This little bit of speed at a time ensures that you learn the tune rather than relying on momentum to get through it**. Once you have the tune at speed, you can spot check your tempo on occasion to assure you have kept the tune the way you want it.
So, hopefully you can see that the metronome is your friend. Even when it feels like it’s winning. With the metronome (and any other tools you know you should use but keep avoiding) the more you avoid it the more you probably need it. But anything that helps you gain clarity can not only help you grow but will do it as a friend (an honest friend!).
What about you? Is your metronome your friend or your foe? How do you use yours? Let me know in the comments!
* And in case you’re wondering, yes, I still have my beautiful wooden cased Seth-Thomas. And yes, I still use it. And yes do I love it – it always reminds me that my original fan club – my parents – knew what i was capable of, even when I didn’t.
** I tell my students to go back 3 increments when a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g is not right. That includes a wrong note, a messed up fingering, a wobbly rhythm, a wonky phrasing, or anything that’s just not right. The first reason is that you are doing this for you so don’t cheat yourself – expect your best. The second is that you don’t want to keep practicing an error, so eradicate errors as soon as you identify them. I guarantee you will not be able to perform the tune sooner by cutting corners!
the Sound of the click/clonk is distracting. so i wasn’t using it. what i now realize is, that if i’m pulled off and lose concentration = i’m NOT ready to play at that tempo! i don’t really Know the tune. it’s still an evil little device!
YES!!! That’s exactly it!
I love my metronome! I use it after I’m familiar with a piece to work on getting the right tempo- meaning speeding it up- usually a lot. I swear the darn thing changes tempo sometimes in the middle of a tune🤣🤣🤣
I think sometimes the Brownies do make it go faster!
It was definitely not my friend at first. I don’t like the feeling of plodding through a piece so I was setting it too high. I had to force myself to set it at 40 to start. That’s where I always start now. The other thing that helped me was to put one earbud in with the metronome app on my phone. I had trouble keeping track of the music and metronome when the metronome was on speaker and I was hearing them together. Having the metronome alone in one ear helps me keep track of both.
40 is about where I usually start too. At that speed I can do all the subdividing I want! I can also easily count out loud (no cheating by thinking I’m counting when I’m really not!). Earbuds are an interesting idea – I’ll have to give it a try.
Definitely a foe, it’s frustrating and sometimes I can’t even get the tempo I like to use. But I know I need to be friend with metronome as I’m notorious to speed up! I like your idea of setting the tick for each subdivision. I’ll try and see if it helps me to be more patient. Thanks for the idea!
When you have tried subdividing, I’d love to hear how it goes! 😊
Great post! I haven’t had my metronome out in awhile… not because I think of it as a foe, but more because I just kind of forgot about it. Mine is a little digital device that I tend to put away rather than a mechanical device like yours that sits on the counter and reminds you of its presence! You have peaked my interest in finding a mechanical one like I had when I was a kid….
I’m curious; you said when learning to build speed on a tune you slow back down after a single mistake. Do you have an algorithm for speeding up? Do you increase the speed after a certain number of successful rounds? And when you come back to a tune you are working on speeding up, do you start again at the fastest speed you could consistently play the day before or do you start slower again?
Yeah, I’m pretty sure that if I didn’t have my “Ticky-tock” out I wouldn’t use it, and if it wasn’t out, I wouldn’t think to use the app I also have downloaded! I really like the app because I can set the time signature and the number of beats I’d like – so If it am working on a jig, I can set it to 6 beats to the bar but can also have it tick out 1 – 2 or 1- 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6, as needed. And frankly, I usually need it. So, now two tips!
1. When I’m really early in a tune, especially if it has a tricky rhythm (in my head anything that isn’t straight quarter notes is tricky – I’m simple like that), I will stay in the broken-down meter (counting out all 6 in 6/8 or using 8 ticks for a 4/4 so I can get the 1/8th notes in) just until I have the feel of the tune. I can drop the 6/8 back to counting 1 – 2 (or counting in 4 for 4/4) once I have it in my head better. I do this with tunes I’m reading, but I also do it with tunes I’m learning by ear – it helps keep me honest!
2. Your question about my speed up algorithm.
I start dead slow – ridiculously slow – just so I can have an easy win. Then for each time I play correctly, I go up 1 notch or 3 electronic beats and do it again (so i speed up with 1 correct play through). I will keep going faster until I make a mistake.
I know this is kinda silly, but it gives me loads of manageable practice at slower speeds while also allowing me ample opportunities to pat myself on the head for doing a good job – sort of a mental participation trophy. That’s also why as soon as I make any mistake (error, bobble, divergence, or “jazz improvisation”) I call it what it is and slow down again. I try very hard not to call it a Mulligan, a chance thing, or a “gimme” – it’s an error and down we go again. I will then go back 3 notches or 9 electronic beats. I picked 3 arbitrarily.
But going back 3 puts me firmly back where I could definitely do it. If I fumble at the same tempo I fumbled at the first time, it is clear that in that case I’ve hit my current level of learning. So, slowing down gives me more practice at the speed at which I can actually play the tune. And then Lather – Rinse – Repeat.
Remember that there’s a lot going on when you’re learning a tune. Sometimes it’s a fingering issue, but usually it is a memory issue – find that I typically fumble at the speed at which I can’t think fast enough to stay ahead of the tune – I can’t recall what comes next at the tempo I’ve set. So, as I practice at a slower tempo, I’m concomitantly strengthening my memory of the tune, it’s pieces, how it goes together, what comes next, etc.
Coincidentally, this fumble tempo often seems to also be the speed at which we would typically pretend that we do know the tune and keep going, letting momentum push us through while accepting “good enough”. And “good enough” will be fine…until your lesson or until you want to play the tune with someone else – then all the lies you told yourself about having the tune down will be patent!
Hope that’s clear enough! Let me know if you try it and how you get on.
heavy stuff jen!
Thanks Jen… I appreciate the time you spent writing me back in such detail! I pulled my metronome out (and dusted it off) and used your method and found that the slip jig I’m working on is much better after even just two days of metronome use! I had been caught in a cycle of playing it over and over but not really feeling like I was getting anywhere…. as soon as I had the structure of both the beats themselves and the challenge of slowly increasing the speed with a really high bar to meet in order to take that next step I found that things got better quickly! It just organized me (and my fingers… and my brain…) in a way that was super helpful. Thank you both for the original post and the detailed response for a method to use it to increase speed and accuracy….. it’s made a big difference for me already!
I am delighted! Thanks for your kind words!
Some people evidently are born with an innate beat; however, I evidently was not. Once I realized this, the metronome through continued use helped me develop a beat. After the initial learning is over, I use it on a regular basis. Prior to a performance, I start practicing without so I can let the music flow knowing my beat will be consistent.
That’s a good approach – and you gave me an idea of another topic! Thank you! 🙂
very well done. nice Seth Thomas . how far can you throw That? LOL
k my favorite line in your blog:
” So, hopefully you can see that the metronome is your friend. Even when it feels like it’s wining.”
the last word- a cross between winning and whining…. 🙂
LoL – corrected! (although maybe it was subliminal?)