Getting lost with the metronome

[faa2010]

Hi, I am practicing Bach Inventions, and I want to use the metronome so I will follow the right rythym.

However, I have many problems when I am following the metronome:

1. Either if the metronome is on 60 or 92 bpm, instead on basing the black notes in that rythym, I played according to the notes which have the least duration (eg an octave for each tick).

2. Or I pay attention to the music sheet or to the ticks the metronome does.

3. No matter to whom I am paying attention, I always make mistakes and there is a point where I lose track of the rythym the metronome gives.

Could you give me some advices to train with metronome?

[iansinclair]

Consider that the whole point of the metronome is to establish -- and maintain -- an absolutely even major beat.  For that it is very good practice; playing that way in performance is deadly dull, even in Bach!  However, keeping that in mind the setting of the metronome should be for the major division of the time signature; e.g. quarter notes for 3/4 or 4/4 time.  As a general rule.  There are exceptions.  (there are always exceptions!).  For example, in a faster waltz one might well want the metronome to mark only the beginning of each measure.

If you do this, your accent (there should be a very very very slight accent on the major division except, obviously, for suspensions) will coincide every time with the tick of the metronome.

The metronome is absolutely relentless.  Therefore, if you do make a mistake and hesitate -- even slightly -- you and the metronome will fall apart.  When this happens, stop.  The instant it happens.  First place, you need to go over the mistake; second place, trying to play catch up with a metronome is futile.  Therefore, I would strongly recommend that you get the piece pretty well learned first, paying attention to evenness rather more than tempo.  Then bring it up to a tempo near where you want to be, but where you still can play it without hesitations.  Then, and only then, you can try to work with the metronome, with the objective at that point being absolutely even time.  When that is going well enough, you can set the metronome at the desired tempo (and there is no magic in any specific number -- it's what sounds correct that is correct) and work on it.

Not sure this helps any... I must admit that I abhor metronomes; I have been know to throw them across the room.

[brogers70]

I don't often find it useful to play with a metronome. The situation in which it can help, for me, is when I play a piece and find that my enthusiasm has led me to speed up and get tense. Playing with the metronome then helps identify exactly the spot where I go wrong, and then I can be conscious of NOT accelerating there. But for routine playing, no. Even the slightest hesitation and breathing necessary for good phrasing in Bach will get you off time with the metronome, and if you succeed in sticking with the metronome you'll have eliminated a lot of your phrasing. So I think it's only useful once in a while, diagnostically, not as a regular element of practice.

[j_menz]

I abhor metronomes; I have been know to throw them across the room.

Same here! In fact, I had mine bronzed so I couldn't do that. It no longer works, so I'm no longer tempted. 

That said, some people need help to develop a decent sense of timing, and I guess a metronome may have a useful function there. Can't offer any advice as to how to use one for that, though.

I have been known to turn one one at a mm speed noted on a score. Sometimes it's informative. Sometimes it's good for a laugh.