Using a Metronome
Using a Metronome
Rhythm and the ability to maintain a pulse is fundamental to music making. Being able to ‘groove’ and play ‘in the pocket’ are essential skills for ensembles and successful performances. In fact, the Dalcroze methodology of music education emphasizes the use of rhythmic movement. Some cultures embrace dance and movement while others inhibit it. Either way, every music student will eventually be asked to play with and practice with a metronome. The student’s success with that ominous clicking depends on many factors but the right approach can increase the odds of success.
The metronome is probably the single most important tool in a student’s musical development. I encourage all my students to purchase and use metronomes. Most students who own a metronome purchased it after playing a few years. Therefore, much of this is designed for that situation – sometimes even re-learning counting.
However, owning a metronome is only one step in the path to rhythmic success. Before a beginning musician practices with a metronome they need to know what it does and how to work with it.
First, let me say that I teach students to count using eighth notes from the very beginning – just as the Essential Elements series does. I have students count out loud. This is a great advantage to playing a string instrument. Subdividing the pulse is the key to the student’s rhythmic ability.
Within a few lessons everyone is able to pluck quarter notes and say 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. I firmly believe students should count out loud. This transforms a thought into a real physical manifestation where teachers and students can easily identify errors.
When teaching beginning musicians quarter notes, I say each quarter note has 2 halves. The first half is a number, the second half is an ‘&’. We need to count both halves. This makes subdividing an easy transition and a logical result.
Several lessons later I add foot tapping and tell the students “the foot goes down on a number, up on an ‘&’ “. We work on counting out loud and tapping the foot at the same time. I devote a lesson or two just to counting, clapping, and subdividing. This is easy to work into the public school schedule if you are flexible. There are times when you have to group lessons together due to field trips or testing and this heterogeneous mix is the perfect opportunity to work on counting and rhythmics skills.
Steps to Working with a Metronome:
(student checklist)
Be able to count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & out loud, smoothly and comfortably for at least 10 repetitions.
Be able to count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & out loud with a metronome. Start slowly! Around 50 bpm is a good starting point. Get used to counting with a metronome. You should say the numbers at the same time as a click. Do only this for at least one week. 10 repetitions, several times a day. Each ‘practice session’ only takes a few minutes!
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
| | | |
Where ‘|’ is a metronome click.
When this is comfortable, move on…
Add foot tapping. Down on a number, up on an &. Make the movement smooth and even. Take your time moving to each step. Don’t move on until you are ready. For some students, that’s one day, for others a few months. It doesn’t matter, just stick with it and be patient. (By the way, I was one of those students where it took months.)
Add clapping. Start by clapping on the numbers with the foot tap. Then try just ‘1’ – the first beat of each measure. Then do different combinations, for example:
X X
or
X X
| | | |
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Where ‘|’ is a metronome click and ‘X’ is a clap.
When that is comfortable and ‘in your muscles’, move on…
‘Air-bow’ quarter notes while counting and then with both counting and foot tapping.
When using the metronome with the printed music for the first time draw lines in the music (in pencil) where the beats occur. These lines serve as a guide so you know where the clicks should occur when playing. Without playing, just follow the music with the metronome on.
‘Air-Bow’ the rhythms with the metronome. With or without holding your bow, do the bowing motions in the air with the metronome while counting and tapping. SPEED DOES NOT COUNT. ACCURACY DOES. Go as slowly as you need to in order to be accurate.
