Metronomes- A Required Item at Home?

Author: admin

3 Feb

Thank you all for such awesome suggestions and motivations for my current issue. I’m excited to try your ideas, and will let you know what works!

Lately, I have been working really hard on rhythm with most students. Many of them do not have metronomes at home, and I am positive that if they did, they would do better with rhythm. Do you require your students to have metronomes? I am considering making it a requirement this next school year, but wonder if parents will be annoyed at having another required expense. How has it worked in your studios?

Filed under: Problems- Help me!, Thoughts

4 Responses for "Metronomes- A Required Item at Home?"

Natalie Wickham February 3rd, 2009 at 11:43 pm 1
Yes! I require all my students to purchase a metronome within the first month of lessons. That requirement is included in my policy and I’ve never had a parent question it. It is well worth the approximately $40 for the student to be able to practice with a metronome. And we start using it at the very first lesson, too!
Lauren February 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pm 2
Be sure they get the type that you can see the wand or the little lights moving back and forth. The kind that just beeps won’t help at all. You have to be able to see the motion to feel it, even if it’s just out of the corner of your eye.
mary lou February 8th, 2009 at 6:26 pm 3
Concerning requiring students to have their own metronome:
I would require a metronome when they are in 3rd grade music. Parents don’t protest. By the time they are in 3rd grade music, they have decided to be serious about music and parents don’t mind. Before then, I would do a lot of clapping of pieces before they play them. Clap out sections of the piece.
mary lou February 8th, 2009 at 6:28 pm 4
To add to that comment – I don’t think children can handle learning notes and learning rhythm at an early age, therefore you have to work on them separately. Learn the names of the notes then clap the rhythm.