Three Things Every Piano Student Should Know About Metronomes
Piano students, even beginners, are probably familiar with the metronome. Using one during practice can help students play more proficiently and consistently. Some piano instructors even insist on it. A metronome should be a basic tool for every person learning to play.
A metronome is a device that helps keep rhythm and timing during a piece of music. Most emit some type of a sound, typically a clicking sound. Many sound like a ticking clock. However, some emit other sounds, like rhythmic beeping. Others may use some type of a visual cue. Mechanical metronomes use both: clicking plus a pendulum rod that swings back and forth in tempo.
The most common type of metronome is the good old-fashioned mechanical, wind-up style. Various types of electronic ones are also available today. Both do the job well, and using one or the other is usually a matter of personal preference. Many piano teachers recommend mechanical ones though. This kind is easy enough even for a child to use. Plus, the combination of visual and audio cues reinforces the idea of keeping tempo.
Using a metronome is relatively simple. A mechanical metronome has a scale printed on the face. The scale contains numbers that represent beats per minute (BPM.) The scales on most usually range from 40 to 200 BPM.Usually the tempo is indicated by a notation that looks like MM=60 or MM-72 or any speed. MM-60 would be equivilent to one beat per second. (MM stands for Mälzel’s Metronome.) The pianist sets the scale, and the device keeps a steady tempo. Electronic metronomes have dials or buttons that control the tempo. The pianist sets the desired tempo and then turns on the device.
So why use a metronome for piano practice? The three most important reasons are:
1. It teaches students to understand time signatures. Most musical pieces have a designated time signature. It indicates the speed at which the composer intended the song to be played. It’s difficult to play a new piece of music and try to judge what the time signature is without some external cue(s.) Instead, students can look at the beginning of the song to see what the speed should be. They can set the device and play along at the correct speed. With practice, students will be able to play at the right speed without using a metronome.
2. It helps to develop consistency. Most every pianist has the tendency to speed up or slow down throughout a piece of music. Using a metronome forces the pianist to play at a consistent speed for the whole piece. Regular use will help the pianists develop consistency even when they aren’t using the metronome.
3. It helps students develop an inner sense of timing. Using a metronome regularly during practice helps pianists judge timing on their own. Eventually students will learn to perceive the tempo of a time signature without any external cues.