A metronome is a gadget which generates "ticks" or "peeps" at specified intervals. The numbers on the metronome indicate the number of ticks per minute. The standard settings are 40 - 208.

Although some teacher despise them, a metronome is an important practice aid, in my opinion. It lifts from the student's shoulders the burden of maintaining a steady tempo during the learning stage of a piece so the student can concentrate on locating the notes accurately and playing them for the duration specified by the composer.

Another use for a metronome is for a gradual increase in tempo. The increments are so small that almost without knowing it, the student increases the speed at which she can play the piece accurately.

Many teachers use the metronome as an adjunct to technical drills.

And a metronome can introduce the student to the reality that sometimes he may not select the tempo! Sometimes someone else - - such as the conductor - - will impose her idea of what the speed should be. The student must learn to adjust his playing!

There are three kinds of metronomes:

• Mechanical. These are the wind-up kind and work by a spring mechanism. When the spring unwinds entirely, the metronome stops and must be re-wound. Speed is changed by moving a weight on a pendulum-type arm. (Think of a teeter-totter. The closer the kids sit to the fulcrum, the faster the movement. A mechanical metronome is sort of half of a teeter-totter. The moveable weight is one child, and the unmovable counterweight is the other child. The closer the moveable weight is to the fulcrum and the counterweight, the faster the arm moves.) Sound produced is a "tick." Many metronomes of this type are pyramid-shaped with a footprint of about 4" x 4". It is possible to get smaller ones, too, that do not take up a lot of room on the piano. This type is sensitive to being dropped: the weights in the moving arm otherwise disturbed. Mechanical metronomes are somewhat fragile; do not allow the cat to become too enamored with it. Don't allow a curious child to rip the cover open and grab the moving arm (Bingo! It's bent and won't tick evenly!)
• Electric. These are "black boxes" with a dial and that plug into an outlet. Speed is adjusted by the dial. Often these metronomes are quite large. The footprint might be 5" x 5". Sound is a "tick." Very sturdy.
• Electronic. Often cheaper than a mechanical metronome, these tend to be smaller. They are battery-powered. Sound is a "peep" or a pretty weak click. On most of them, speed is selected via a dial. The virtue of these metronomes is that they are very portable, and, unless abused, are fairly impervious to damage when dropped. The biggest problem with electronic metronomes, other than their weak sound, is that they often/usually are set up so the first beat in a measure is a light flash (sometimes also with a tick); the following beats are clicks. Some models substitute a bell for the light. As you can see, if you miss the first beat in the measure, you must wait until the beat-sequence recycles so you can match up the first beat again with the light/bell. Waiting for the metronome to cycle through builds in a hole, which is what you're trying to correct by using the metronome. Some electronic metronomes substitute a bell sound for the light flash. Do not buy an electronic metronome that does not allow you to disable the light or other "marker" for the first beat of a measure.
• Note: Most electronic keyboards have a built-in metronome. Alas, they usually have the light/bell feature, and it cannot be disabled.

You need power. What good is a metronome if the student can't hear it after he starts to play along with it?! Mechanical ones are loudest. Electric ones are usually next loudest. Electronic metronomes run the gamut from quite/rather soft to "is it turned on?" Bottom line: go with the old-fashioned mechanical metronome because it ticks loudly!

For size and price and loudness, I recommend a Taktell Piccolo. (I am not affiliated in any way with the maker or any retailer of this metronome.)

A metronome is an investment your child will use forever. Don't scrimp on this purchase, please.

The one my parents bought me is still ticking away!

copyright 1998-2006, Martha Beth Lewis, Ph.D.
Contact me for reprint permission.