Is it better to count aloud or to use the metronome? My teacher insist that I use the metronome. I hate the metronome.

Can you count in your mind?

I hate the metronome, too!!! Its mechanical ticking drives me absolutely crazy!!! I've dropped my teacher's metronome by mistake a few times, so luckily I'm not aloud to handle it in lessons!
I usually stamp my foot, though, because I obviously can't count aloud when playing the flute! I would do what works best for you, and if you hate the metronome and can count aloud and play at the same time without distracting yourself, why don't you?

The problem with counting is that you may speed up (or slow down) your counting when the speed of your playing changes; thus the point of counting or using the meterenome is defeated. If you use the meterenome it won't change speed (unless it's a wind up one that needs winding up!) so you will play at the right speed. Don't think of it as bad; it's there to help you.

QUOTE (Student @ Nov 25 2004, 09:04 AM)

Is it better to count aloud or to use the metronome? My teacher insist that I use the metronome. I hate the metronome.

Maybe you do hate the metronome but it's the way to go. It has the nasty habit of being horribly accurate where human counting can vary according to the amount of concentration we need to apply elsewhere, eg playing the music.

metronome. THere's no way you can count regularly enough throughout a piece or passage....

Well, I like to develop my students' "inner metronome" as much as possible.

If it needs a little help in the early stages a metronome can help - counting is good too - my students often don't like to count but it does help - as long as it is really regular and even.

Maggie

of coz metronome is better than counting.metronome always gives u the exact tempo however counting aloud , in some cases may confuse urself since some ppl may miscounted the tempo.like couting too fast at some part or too slow at certain places.

I guess the metronome can sometimes be rather loud and irritating (also depending on which type). I've got both the traditional one and a digital one. Both hav their advantages, depending on the situation.

The metronome is helpful and useful as it really puts u on the right track and guides you to maintain a constant speed while u r playing a piece. Without the metronome, I can sometimes get quite lost and inconsistent. However, at times, I tend to focus too much on the speed and drift away frm the dynamics & articulation, etc. Also, the traditional metronome is rather loud...and it irritates me ( so I put it at a distance away frm where I am playing ).

In my opinion, you may like to start off with learning the piece using a metronome. At least, hav an idea of the speed of the piece, and practise wif it till u r more or less consistant. After which, you can count aloud without the metronome, and put your focus on other stuffs like the dynamics & articulation, etc.

Hope the info helps!

Which type of metronome r u using, Student?

Its personal preference really....though at the start its probably better to use the metronome because when you count you may not be counting in time......if you know what I mean. Why do you not like your metronome? too loud?

I firstly use the metronome to get the speed and play teh first cuple of bars first. Once you are used to the speed count in your head.

Hope this Helps

Both can be helpful but a reasonable medium should be established to get the most benefit. Counting aloud helps in developing rhythm until it becomes a part of you, then you can count "in your head" or tap a foot, which will help you to concentrate on expression in the piece you are playing. Playing with a metronome can become too mechanical and your playing becomes ridgid and lacks lustre. It all boils down to what works best for you in the early stages; as you advance a method will develop that goes best with your skills then maybe you wont need the metronome (except in your head) at all.

Using the metronome means one less thing for you to "do" and means you can concentrate on keeping your tempo even!
Yes it's horrible, but it doesn't need to be every time you play - once you've done a piece through a couple of times with it you'll know the bits you're inclined to rush or slow down. you can then try these by yourself for a few sessions and come back to see how you've done.
What I really hate is trying to play with a metronome when it's set to ping every 3rd, 4th beat etc - makes it very frustrating trying to pick up after mistakes! Just not worth it...

I don't know, I prefer the metronome because if I try and talk while I play the piano I either speak funnily putting accents on all the wrong words or I start playing out of time!

QUOTE (Student @ Nov 25 2004, 09:04 AM)

Is it better to count aloud or to use the metronome? My teacher insist that I use the metronome. I hate the metronome.

You can't love everything about music... having things you hate just makes you appreciate the things you love!!!

it is better to use the metronome generally... what instrument do you play? if you are counting aloud you are concentrating on forming the words and not the quality of the music...

I used to hate the metronome but now it's my best friend! well, almost... lol...

Well i use the metromone if that was me but i try to count out loud as i don't have an metromone but im hoping to get one soon.. i really want/need one!!

Well if you play a wind or a brass instrument I would have thought it is slightly difficult to count aloud at the same time as playing, I certainly couldn't manage it...

Thank for all your replies. I taking piano and violin ( which I am going to stop for a year ) . I am using the traditional one, for your information. Yes, it's too loud.

Metronome can help if you are having difficulty internalising the beat.
I would not over use it though.

Also - there are some pieces you need one more than others...I remember doing Bach prelude + fugue no2 from the Well tempered, well the prelude can't be gotten right at first without a metronome (though once you have it in your fingers you need to loosen up on the last part); on the other hand a lot of Satie (Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies...) specifically does not require one since there is no time signature from what I remember :-)

Overall though it is a very useful, if irritating (maybe because it forces us to be accurate!) tool.