Keeping The Piano In Time ???

[leemusicmad]

Hi

With regard to tempo how does one use a metronome when playing solo piano ? Example there are sections in a piano piece where the music will be in timing with the beat for several bars or more then will immediately slow down to perform gentle slow passages and then return to the beat. How does one keep in time with the metronome when playing these slower passages.

Or do you simply NOT use a metronome?    

  

[iansinclair]

I'm sure j_menz will pitch in on this.  Or out.  In my humble opinion, metronomes are primarily useful for annoying students and friends; holding stacks of music down when the window is open on a windy day. and impressing visitors and in-laws...  once in a long time I will use one, just for curiousity, to see just what tempo I am using anyway, an exercise which never ends well...

[leemusicmad]

I'm sure j_menz will pitch in on this.  Or out.  In my humble opinion, metronomes are primarily useful for annoying students and friends; holding stacks of music down when the window is open on a windy day. and impressing visitors and in-laws...  once in a long time I will use one, just for curiousity, to see just what tempo I am using anyway, an exercise which never ends well...

So.. what was that..

[iansinclair]

So.. what was that..

A misguided attempt at humour.  To put it in short, simple terms: no, I don't use one.  No, I haven't used one in some 60 years in the business.

[j_menz]

Or do you simply NOT use a metronome?    

Some of the older ones make great paperweights, and they all make interesting projectiles. Not for anything else, though.

I'm sure j_menz will pitch in on this. 

LOL, am I becoming that predictable?