While we were having a cup of tea this afternoon, Chris asked me to give a few hints on using a metronome.

How to increase your speed, using a metronome.

Take a piece of music and learn it in your usual manner, at a steady, fairly slow, practice speed, that is comfortable for you and able to be played with the metronome.

Carefully add all the technical details, phrasing and dynamics at the fairly slow, practice speed.

When the piece is quite proficient, start to increase the speed on the metronome, one notch at a time, if necessary, over the course of a few practice sessions, until it is up to the correct speed. This may even take a few weeks with a difficult piece. I list the speeds on the margin of the piece of music and tick each one as they are achieved.

If there is difficulty in playing the piece faster, it could be a number of reasons, such as the fingers which should bend at the knuckles. You can't play at speed with straight fingers. Also you can't play the piano with long nails!

A metronome must be a tool that is used as a means to an end. Not an object of torment.

I use a 'soft' tick, not too loud for pupils, The piccalo range and the novelty metronomes, owl etc. have a gentle sound. These work very well unless I have an enthusiastic young lad, in which case, the pyramid is brought out and placed right in the front of the piano where it cannot be missed!

The aim is to be in control of the beat, with an 'inbuilt' feel for the beat.

I teach the pupil how to practise with a metronome when it is required and to use their discretion. Also how to calculate the number of beats per second and the speeds for walking, running, marching etc.

A good sense of time can be learnt, just the same as anything else, it just needs regular practice.