Practice with Metronome

A metronome is a highly useful device that helps people to practice and play music. A metronome provides a strict pulsing beat that can help you control your music tempo (timing) and improve your musical rhythm. When you practice the piano, using a metronome can help you to learn your piece faster. It also provides a basic rhythmic guideline so that you can quickly learn to play your music smoothly and correctly.

The Steps

1.      Understand the different number markings on the metronome. The numbers stand for how many beats there are in a minute. Set your metronome to 60 and listen to the beat. Turn the number up to 120 and notice how the beat is much faster.

2.      Look at the piano music that you want to practice with the metronome. At the top of the piece, above the first note, there should be an indication of how fast the piece should go (called the tempo). There will be a number next to the "M.M" sign. The "M.M" stands for Maelzel's Metronome and indicates the metronome marking.

3.      Set your metronome to the same number as indicated by the "M.M" sign. Practice your piano piece, following the pulse provided by the metronome. Keep your tempo steady and in rhythm.

4.      Turn off the metronome once you feel comfortable playing through your piano piece at the appropriate tempo. Keep practicing at the same speed, feeling the pulse internally. If you have a digital metronome, you also have the option of turning off the sound but leaving a light that flashes the pulse speed. You may want to practice your music a few times this way, relying on the metronome's flashing light to provide you with guidance for the beat.