Piano lesson on correct ways to use the metronome, by Graham Fitch

[@drmichaelshea]

Thanks so very much for the excellent lesson. I’m nearly 70. If I live to be about 110, I ought to be good enough to make some use of it. If only I could be 7 again.

[@NRG56]

You'll be fine oldman, just practice an hour a day an within a few years and you'll be playing all your favorites.

[@cynthiagunkle7834]

Please enjoy every day no matter your age and agree it is a gift to be able to play at all.

[@cynthiagunkle7834]

What a beautiful piano and interesting pianist!!! Happy New ayear.

[@bach-ingmadeline7410]

Ha ha Dr Michael I can relate!

[@lilchris26]

Same here, I am 72 and trying to improve, I wish I had tried earlier in my life but I love it keeps my mind working.

[@dharryg]

"...it fills in a lot of practice time without any real THOUGHT..." That is a priceless little nugget of advice. Like that crazy tie BTW!

[@oneidagonzalez5325]

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[@dharryg]

Never heard of it, Oneida. I'll look into it sometime.

[@khizarabid8414]

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[@panedole]

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[@arturogoleman5221]

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[@mauriceamaraggi8098]

Graham Fitch is such an excellent teacher. I love his videos. And the pianos he plays.

[@WasabiNoise]

I intuitively learned this when practicing Chopin's Nocturne 21 in Cm. I listened to a lot of interpretations and decided that my favorite was Claudio Arrau's. I ended up imitating his rhythm. This confused me when trying to use a metronome. Now I understand why, thanks!!!

[@spartan456]

I have been self teaching how to learn the piano for about 3 months now and I just wanted to say that these videos are amazing. I can't believe they're free. They have helped me quite a bit through my journey so far and I just really appreciate that Graham has taken the time to walk people like me through many of the absolute basics. I haven't spent much time practicing with a metronome because I generally use the notes I'm playing as my metronome, if that makes sense. If my left hand just has a constant repeating pattern, I try to maintain that constant repeating pattern through the rest of the piece. I know when I will be rushing or dragging just because of the way it all sounds. Additionally, I will also feel myself rushing or dragging. However, I have not yet tried to tackle any classical music, which is obviously quite different from what I have been learning on my own. I am still interested in beginning to practice with a metronome though, just for the purpose of seeing exactly where I might be rushing or dragging too much. One of my favorite elements of piano is rubato, because I feel it adds a lot of very human characteristics to the way the music flows. But there's a difference between rubato and arbitrarily playing certain things faster than others. To really know how much you can push and pull the music, you need to know what that rigid structure of time is first. I think that's where the benefits of a metronome really come in. You can't push and pull the time if you don't really have a good sense of time, and a metronome can help you learn that.

[@MusicLover-oe3ig]

Excellent demonstration, I never be disappointed with each click of your treasure trove video! Thank you very much!!

[@justinesportsmedicine]

I'm a beginner and your video was absolutely magnificent. A simple thing such as the use of the metronome. It's always the details which allows two degrees of separation. Wonderful.

[@rogercarroll2551]

Graham Fitch is simply a master teacher.

[@newgeorge]

I had lessons for a while back in the day with the wonderful Maria Donska who was always talking about Schnabel with whom she studied at some point. She used to number the bars in the phrases which was something he had clearly shown her. It's gives valuable insight into the shape of the music.

[@seanocean]

So very cool. One of the very best piano teachers on KZbin who explains real true and feeling technique.

[@cynthiagunkle7834]

I totally agree. I am so happy to hear you explain things and listen to you play. What a gift to me today.

[@sonicboyPT]

My favourite piano lessons on youtube, thank you Graham.

[@DarkSideofSynth]

Always so brilliant, Mr Fitch.

[@mabelfg6574]

Thank you so much. This has been a great relief for me as well cause it is really difficult to follow a metronome in playing through a long piece as requested by my tutor.

[@minibeing4809]

thank you for this.. it addresses the struggle I have playing to the metronome..

[@saradash978]

this was super informative. i usually use the metronome to build my speed, and when i’m able to play at a desired speed i pour in my emotions and experiment with techniques/ dynamics.

[@adamsalinas82]

Thank you for explaining this I come from a very humble back round and didn’t not have the basics this is very helpful -proper.

[@IgnotusPerIgnotium]

These lessons are lovely, it really helped me grow and experiment with my playing. Personally, I use the metronome first to check if I am rushing the beat and second to check at what tempo I ultimate want the piece to sound. Some people like to leave the metronome even in the background just to have the tempo better ingrained, but not only it makes you sound robotic it also produces a kind of anti-click in your brain-thought-ear process, which is really hard to get over.

[@hyperseah]

I am a novice and I just want to compliment you on a useful lesson. I will learn to trust my instinct more and let the music flow instead of sticking to the fixed rhythm. 😅

[@arpan-jaziel-ghosh]

Best lesson on KZbin. Very useful.

[@Bobby-wo4ub]

Thank you. I am so lucky to see your video.

[@pwnedshift1]

Your piano lessons are incredible.

[@ScruffyTubbles]

I asked her "have you been practising this with a metronome?" Knowing that in fact she had .... Brilliant way with words.

[@rickmorrison4440]

Simply wonderful! Thank you.

[@lpa9974]

Best presentation of essential information. Thank you sir!

[@indradhanush5444]

Priceless lesson 🎉

[@ladys8615]

Great teaching. Thank you!

[@DojoOfCool]

Need to develop your inner time keeping and the metronome helps with that. Because with good inner time you can control how you are playing with the beat pushing and pulling the beat to get the feel you want. Also people don't understand practicing with same metronome setting all the time, doesn't mean you'll be able to play other tempos evenly. It's like if you did ear training everyday in key of C, that doesn't guarantte you'll have a good ear for Eb you have to vary how and what you practice.

[@jules153]

Exactly. The advanced techniques Graham talks about can only be executed if you already have great inner time and the best way to get this initially is with a metronome. Also if you want to play in time with other musicians you need to be able to lock into an external clock, e.g. a drummer, etc.

[@TobiasSebastien]

The best way of getting a good inner tempo is by counting. When using a metronome one relies on the outer source, the metronome, which, when taken away will lead to the same problem as before. And when one counts you can incorporate the needed tempo changes to interpret a piece. I learned the hard way by using a metronome - never worked - but counting does.

[@jules153]

@@TobiasSebastien But how do you know if you have achieved a good inner clock unless you check it with a metronome?

[@TobiasSebastien]

@@jules153 By recording and listening to yourself. But you'll be surprised how easily one realises whether one counts fluently or not.

[@jules153]

@@TobiasSebastien But when you are listening back you might not know you had been playing out of time.... It's like trying to calibrate a thermometer by using the same thermometer - you need an external reference :)

[@cjklz]

Thank you. Beautifully explained.

[@AnnaleishaMae]

Lovely useful insightful I'll bookmark this

[@sarahh5604]

Great lesson. So helpful

[@LoadPast]

Why are these videos more helpful than my 50$ an hour private lessons

[@Animations-yk1pg]

Because people don't use their common sense to realize that internet and self learning exists.

[@Animations-yk1pg]

And it's not difficult or impossible as systems like school and people have made it us to believe.

[@javascriptkiddie2718]

I feel like I actually know what I'm doing after warming up to performance tempo with a metronome. No more unconscious rushing or slowing down and a lot fewer mistakes.

[@brv1111]

Excellent teacher. Invaluable ideas and advice. 🙏🏼 namaste

[@aagitation6827]

This was very helpful!

[@franzlisztish]

EXCELLENT! Thanks very much.

[@franciscocardenas5758]

Well put Graham Fitch 👏 👏👏👏🙂

[@zbat4fun761]

masterpiece of a video

[@the4663]

Mind blown! thank you so much Mr. Fitch

[@jennifermateyabram8480]

I started to use the metronome when my ' heavy metal' son who is a drummer with perfect timing, insisted I play in time. I am a soloist. I've played solo for 60 years. I am now studying Spanish music and jazz. I find the metronome somewhat helpful, but as you explain, thank you very much, no one after bar 3 4 5 is able to keep it up in a robotic manner. Until I came across this video I was about ready to give up. So I am in and out of timing with the metronome but not so far off that I'm out of the entire measure. Great video. I'll have my son watch it because he does not understand the push and pull of classical. Especially the romanticism, the expression of emotion. How can you play in time when you're expressing with emotion on the piano keys? Thank you thank you

[@skularatna8136]

My teacher said this too feel the music don’t get too stuck in time and being precise. Express. But timing is important just not the be all and end all

[@charlesallan6978]

Set the metronome to 60 bpm. Clap to the beat. It is neither silent nor broken. You have perfect timing Congrats. Now set it to 40.

[@franzmustafa897]

Actually I realy recommend to practise a whole pieces with metronom to get framework in with you can breave but always has the control over the difficulties

[@idan4848]

thank you!!

[@diymidnightrock-n-rollnext7900]

Dear Graham Fitch and the Team! Thank you very much for these valuable lessons! One ask: could you please enable the community contribution for the translations? Not everyone speaks English; I'd be keen to work on subtitles for my native language. Thank you.

[@soulstylista]

The intro music for this video is so nice! Sounds heavenly! Hope one day I can perfect my skills to sound like that.

[@FishingtonBurpPuzzle]

Thank you for this teaching. I have often been in tears over the metronome.

[@baileys6346]

This is fantastic

[@yuxia5989]

I use metronome pretty much only on exercises like hanon and czerny etc

[@piga_612B]

Thank you soooo much!

[@lyndasoar4345]

just starting to learn to play... wondered why no1 was advocating using a metronome... what a great explanation, here ... because i was getting confused in that 1. i would not be able to hit all the notes on the 'tic toc'... and, if i DId... 2. how robotic the music would sound... :))

[@BlackCat.]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@1955robyn]

Thank you. Would it be possible to add a list of the musical examples you give in the description.

[@izabellamardo1074]

Seus vídeos são imperdíveis amo

[@Carino391]

Another great lesson, thank you. Would love to know the metronome app that you use where you can tap in the tempo and it finds it for you?

[@eluraelyra]

Does anybody know what app he is using?

[@gracey5512]

Wow. I wish I knew that there was a metronome app for smartphones before I ordered a metronome

[@MercurialAscent]

I'm such an unskilled piano player that that you making fun of an example of metronome abuse still sounded beautiful lol

[@pianistganga]

wonderful video 🙏

[@PolymathX]

You just made a bunch of missing pieces click together in my head, practicing this is going to greatly improve my playing

[@77sincere94]

What metronome software he using

[@man0sticks]

How do you square your ideas about the use of the metronome with accounts by Chopin’s pupils and contemporaries that he played with his left hand in strict, metronomic time, while taking great liberties with the right hand? Mikuli said that Chopin used a metronome regularly. I would like to hear you attempt to play the A minor waltz that way. It seems to be a lost art.

[@jazzman1945ify]

A striking example in jazz is Erroll Garner.

[@javascriptkiddie2718]

Probably referring to cross rhythm

[@paulgonzalez5957]

Cool metronome...what app is this?

[@rundalina]

Paul Gonzalez Looks like MetroTimer.

[@neilward5825]

Hi Graham. I've noticed this myself when listening to elite recordings that even in more classical and pre classical music, the pianist soon diverges from the initial metronome marking they set themselves. Should I worry overly if I can't keep with metronome (my left hand falls behind) if when playing without the metronome, the problem passage can be negotiated in a non distracting way, or should I assume that if I can't keep strictly to the metronome, that the piece is beyond my level? Hope you get to see this comment, or appreciate comments from others ?

[@indradhanush5444]

Title track by R. Schumaan !!!!!

[@classicalphx6452]

Mr. Fitch, Do you recommend going back to a slower tempo once you have achieved a fast tempo with about 90% accuracy and consistency? I have a concert coming up and I cant decide whether to commit to getting as many repetitions in at (and a little above) concert tempo, or whether to go back to slow practice even though I have it at speed.

[@bach-ingmadeline7410]

ClassicalPHX Josh Wright has done a very good video on what/how to practice in the run up to a performance. Check him out, he's great.

[@satopham]

Brilliant! And yes, I am guilty of serial metronome abuse...

[@ScruffyTubbles]

Well done Graham. I have a good metronome but don't use it. Who knows I might now.

[@attic1project776]

So it’s not possible to practice a piece with rubato and using metronome !?

[@p1anosteve]

I think you jest! Anyway why not vary tempo if it works?

[@Highinsight7]

ammmm... practicing a little with the metronome is VERY useful... YOU NEED TO KNOW where the (central) beat is ALL TIMES... and then you can give and take at will ... ... "the blanket must be firmly placed on a solid clothes line (the structure) so it can blow back and forth in the wind (rubato)..."

[@Highinsight7]

and ... of course .... you do mention this...

[@billligon4005]

Why can't really, really slow it down? I like to play pieces very slowly. Is that a good idea?

[@nickiadams4388]

Hmm, wondering your thoughts on Glenn Gould's approach. Not as much push and pull (almost precisely metronomic), but thorough expressive quality through articulations. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGmxYWRjjc1miKM

[@makuearth88]

Very useful, thanks! But the Steinway & Sons, probably worth more than 100’000$, deserves to have all the dust around logo removed ... LOL

[@dpsherwood]

Here is a video of Leon Fleisher that Graham talks about stretching the little notes pass the long notes m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmXLqKlvh7iXqsk

[@mambakroko.6975]

I like the taste of music but every once in a while I gobble up a metronome or TEN.

[@factsNcomments-imho]

No human music will follow a strict robotic metronome beat overall.

[@dac3uk]

Complements....

[@petretepner8027]

Aren't performers great? A lot of the time we just chuck scores at them, and rely on them to make sense of them, and amazingly they do. Too late to improve my keyboard skills, but I'm a little bit more respectful, I hope.

[@javier.canseco]

I’m aware you’re a skilled concert pianist, but please don’t teach. This kind of “advice” is atrocious for beginners.

[@LifeinLancashire]

I'm a beginner and I'm afraid his video all sounded like double dutch to me and no wiser at the end of it 😔

[@jewelmarkess]

It clearly says right above the title below this video that it is part of "lessons for the advanced level" playlist. It is not meant for beginners, obviously.

[@Stephanie9959]

So the metronome can negate expressive play. I wonder what the masters would be playing in modern times?