Each tick of the metronome requests your note to be on or between the beat. At some interval of time, you expect your playing to improve because of your metronome usage. Without P.M.U. It is pretty hard to measure any significant progress.
I venture to say the metronome has been viewed as a time keeper. I give you that one, and add that you are a time keeper as well. You, as a musician should by now be versed at keeping time with other musicians. An important process of checking this is to record yourself on several tracks with a count off, but no drums or click track, just the time of your playing. Harmonize with yourself, add a melody and embellishments. Work at it until it feels good.
Proper Metronome Usage will help you tighten up your musicianship discipline as well as your accompaniment timing.
My gift to you Christmas was the start of a year of FREE music lessons for practice, playing and understanding theory for song writing, soloing, (or improvising), and arranging. As an addition to that lesson it is important to mention a few P.M.U. techniques here.
Set your metronome at the required tempo of the piece, or your expected tempo for rehearsal. Play the piece, (song, or lesson), http://networkedblogs.com/cg1K8 After playing the piece twice through,
1. slow the metronome down 15 notches,
2. play the piece once at the slower speed,
3. stop and speed the metronome one notch.
4. play the piece twice through.
5. stop and speed the metronome one notch.
6. continue this process until you have reached five (5) notches past the required or expected tempo.
7. continue this process daily, adding a higher notch each day.
At the end of each week, having applied this technique, you will find yourself a faster, much more precise player. Your sense of time will sharpen, and you will have developed a bulls eye for each targeted note. This type of playing is what many musicians work a life time to achieve, and master musicians learn early on.
Question: do you expect to take a life time to start playing your best?
