Internal metronome, How to develop one?

[winningpianist]

Hi guys,

I had trouble with keeping in time for pieces mainly in the classical period for many years,
whenever I play them without the metronome, I always don't feel my rhythm is secure.
THe Beethoven's Waldstein fist movt I playing now is a good example.

My teacher said I need to build a Internal metronome, or able to hear the "ticks" while I'm playing, How do I achieve that? Please give me some suggestions? I already practice the piece repeatedly with metronome, but when I play it without the metronome, I always feel a bit lost and not secure....Please help! Thanks so much!!

CHeers
winningpianist

[term]

Play without metronome until the rhythm is secure.

Your question is like "i can't play the piece. Tell me how i can manage to press all those keys"
=> through actually doing it!

You can help yourself with your foot. What is obviously not suitable for practising to play without metronome, is to use the metronome. 

[winningpianist]

"Play without metronome until the rhythm is secure"

The problem is I don't even know if I'm playing in time when I play without the metronome.....any suggestions? Thanks!

[thierry13]

Count out loud while you play, it helps, because generally your voice WON'T desync, and then you just have to rely on what you ear, like if it was a metronome ... but it's actually you saying it ...

[slobone]

Sign up to be an accompanist for your local chorus. You'll learn how to keep a steady beat in a hurry...

[gerry]

Where I notice my problem in this area is when I'm trying to negotiate those "music minus one" concertos - I find that when there are long solo piano parts, I tend to arrive ahead of the orchestra entrances (i.e. I speed up). I wish "music minus one" would come into the 21st century and come up with a way to record the orchestra on DVD so you could put a monitor in front of you and watch the conductor - at least try to mimic a real setting. We have the technology, why not.

[thalberg]

The rhythm comes from your gut.  You must feel the beat there.  When my students have bad rhythm, I tell them "you're trying to think the beat--don't do that.  Feel the beat."  The beat is not something you hear in your ears or think with your mind.  It's something you feel in your gut.

[gerry]

Oh well, I guess I'll just drink more Keopectate and hope that my gut slows down.