Vox Humana Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Am I the only person who is hazy about metronome marks? The only one I can ever remember is crotchet = 60, which is the speed of Colonel Bogey (though of course the second hand on my watch is an even better aide memoire). I really do think I ought to get at least cr = 72 and cr = 100 properly into my system. I suppose the answer is to find a couple of pieces that I invariably and reliably take at these speeds, but does anyone have any magic tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazman Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Am I the only person who is hazy about metronome marks? The only one I can ever remember is crotchet = 60, which is the speed of Colonel Bogey (though of course the second hand on my watch is an even better aide memoire). I really do think I ought to get at least cr = 72 and cr = 100 properly into my system. I suppose the answer is to find a couple of pieces that I invariably and reliably take at these speeds, but does anyone have any magic tips? You could always buy yourself a metronome; they're not that expensive, Vox! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted September 11, 2007 Author Share Posted September 11, 2007 You could always buy yourself a metronome; they're not that expensive, Vox! Got two, but that's hardly the point! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazman Posted September 11, 2007 Share Posted September 11, 2007 Got two, but that's hardly the point! One for each ear? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I always remember these from preparing for my ARCO ! John Scott gave the following aide memoire which I have always used 60 = Just count seconds. 72 = Zadok the priest 100 = Happy birthday to you. 120 = Colonel Bogey Having tested these with a metronome, I have found them amazingly accurate ! Hope this helps. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I always remember these from preparing for my ARCO ! John Scott gave the following aide memoire which I have always used 60 = Just count seconds. 72 = Zadok the priest 100 = Happy birthday to you. 120 = Colonel Bogey Having tested these with a metronome, I have found them amazingly accurate ! Hope this helps. M Splendid! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted September 12, 2007 Author Share Posted September 12, 2007 That's just the sort of thing I was looking for. Thanks a million! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Harvey Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Other good ones are: 72 = National Anthem 80 = O god, our help in ages past 88 = Now thank we all our God Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justadad Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 So is Col. Bogey 60 (a la Vox) or 120 (a la John Scott via MAB)? Or have I stupidly misunderstood something? J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
innate Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 So is Col. Bogey 60 (a la Vox) or 120 (a la John Scott via MAB)? Or have I stupidly misunderstood something? J 60 is cut-common ¢ or 2/2; 120 is 4/4; they are the same tempo for Colonel Bogey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Am I the only person who is hazy about metronome marks? The only one I can ever remember is crotchet = 60, which is the speed of Colonel Bogey (though of course the second hand on my watch is an even better aide memoire). I really do think I ought to get at least cr = 72 and cr = 100 properly into my system. I suppose the answer is to find a couple of pieces that I invariably and reliably take at these speeds, but does anyone have any magic tips? ========================= What is a metronome? I just look at the music and decide how fast it should go. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Morley Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Edited blank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Morley Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 =========================What is a metronome? I just look at the music and decide how fast it should go. MM Thank you, FM-B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyorgan Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I was always taught 100 was the Toredor March from Carmen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusingMuso Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 So is Col. Bogey 60 (a la Vox) or 120 (a la John Scott via MAB)? Or have I stupidly misunderstood something? J ============================ I think it rather depends on whether Col.Bogey was fighting with the Royal Fuseliers or the KOYLI's. Perhaps John Scott was thinking of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. MM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DouglasCorr Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 ============================I think it rather depends on whether Col.Bogey was fighting with the Royal Fuseliers or the KOYLI's. Perhaps John Scott was thinking of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. MM Army Rifles Drill states The need to move quickly in recce or rearguard actions, or to form a screen, required fast marching and occasional double marching. As compared to the regular infantry pace of 120 per minute, the Light Infantry or Rifle pace is 140 per minute. On ceremonial parades march pasts are done in both quick and double time, the latter 180 paces to the minute. I'm sure that clears things up for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted September 13, 2007 Author Share Posted September 13, 2007 180? That's a ceremonial trot past! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
contrabordun Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 How is 180 the double of any of the other numbers mentioned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted September 13, 2007 Author Share Posted September 13, 2007 Ever heard of government accounting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazman Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I wonder if anyone can make any suggestions about what I should do with the metronome I have at home. It seems a friendly, unassuming little thing and, once the key has been wound and a tempo set, it seems quite happy to tick away at a regular pulse. However, problems start the moment I begin to play the organ along with it. The thing keeps changing speed! Some bars it gets faster, other bars slower, and it rarely keeps in time with me. As soon as I stop playing, in order for me to reprimand it for not keeping a steady tempo, it returns to a regular tempo straight away! It's quite happy to continue this little game all day long. Other organists have complained to me that their metronomes malfunction similarly, but those belonging to other musicians seem to behave rather better. Does anyone else here have any experience of wayward metronomes, and why they seem only to misbehave for organists??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Carr Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I wonder if anyone can make any suggestions about what I should do with the metronome I have at home. It seems a friendly, unassuming little thing and, once the key has been wound and a tempo set, it seems quite happy to tick away at a regular pulse. However, problems start the moment I begin to play the organ along with it. The thing keeps changing speed! Some bars it gets faster, other bars slower, and it rarely keeps in time with me. As soon as I stop playing, in order for me to reprimand it for not keeping a steady tempo, it returns to a regular tempo straight away! It's quite happy to continue this little game all day long. Other organists have complained to me that their metronomes malfunction similarly, but those belonging to other musicians seem to behave rather better. Does anyone else here have any experience of wayward metronomes, and why they seem only to misbehave for organists??? I blame it all on vibrations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted September 13, 2007 Author Share Posted September 13, 2007 Don't play so musically and you'll be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Patrick Coleman Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I wonder if anyone can make any suggestions about what I should do with the metronome I have at home. It seems a friendly, unassuming little thing and, once the key has been wound and a tempo set, it seems quite happy to tick away at a regular pulse. However, problems start the moment I begin to play the organ along with it. The thing keeps changing speed! Some bars it gets faster, other bars slower, and it rarely keeps in time with me. As soon as I stop playing, in order for me to reprimand it for not keeping a steady tempo, it returns to a regular tempo straight away! It's quite happy to continue this little game all day long. Other organists have complained to me that their metronomes malfunction similarly, but those belonging to other musicians seem to behave rather better. Does anyone else here have any experience of wayward metronomes, and why they seem only to misbehave for organists??? I would never claim to be any more than a moderately competent organist, though I have been told I have an accurate sense of rhythm, especially when singing. Introduce a metronome to the musical relationship, however, and I become a wreck. At best, I use it to indicate a tempo as I read the music in my head: then it goes back to the hell hole where it belongs. :angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vox Humana Posted September 13, 2007 Author Share Posted September 13, 2007 Seriously, I think it is important when using a metronome to distinguish between those fluctuations in tempo that are due to one's natural responses to the shape of a phrase or nuances of feeling/interpretation (these are OK, for it is such nuances that make the music live) and those that are due to technical problems (which are not OK). Drilling yourself to play difficult passages with metronomic precision can I think be very beneficial. However the more you use a metronome, the greater the danger that it will push the natural musical feeling into the background. On the whole metronomes should be used with discretion and not for extended periods (except perhaps when a pupil lacks any sense of regular rhythm whatsoever). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAB Posted September 14, 2007 Share Posted September 14, 2007 I swear by my metronome(s). I have two of the credit card - sized digital metronomes. One sits on the toaster at home, and the other is in my music case so I have a metronome wherever I go. I do not actually use it that much to gauge the tempo of a piece, apart from just getting an idea at the beginning. However, I do use it a great deal when practicing. As regular readers of this board will know (yawn), I am a great fan of practicing very slowly, that is, at quarter speed. Playing along with a metronome is essential to make sure that you keep strictly to this discipline, otherwise it is all too easy to say 'I know this bit - it doesn't matter if I speed up here'. That is not how the exercise works. I accept, though, that this is a discipline to be used for short, concentrated periods, rather than all the time. The other thing that my metronome shows me is when I am speeding up. It can be very hard to keep a strict pulse in a piece, especially if the movement changes from, say, duplets to triplets, or the writing gets denser. A sense of anxiety as the notes pile up can cause you to speed up without realising it. Again, once or twice through (only) with the metronome helps to correct this problem. Finally, the metronome was crucial in preparing for the dreaded RCO tests. I would always practice these with the metronome ticking simply to force my brain into the required discipline. In response to Vox Humana's point, those of a cynical disposition might say that 'pushing natural musical feeling into the background' is the essence of passing those particular tests. I could not possibly comment. M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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