Teacher: ”Do you practice with a metronome?”
Student: ”I don’t have one.”
Teacher: “Why not?”
Student: “I don’t know where to get one and we don’t have the money to buy one!”
How many times has this conversation happened in band rooms across the country? Today I asked this very question and the students were surprised to hear my response: ”If you have a computer, cell phone, ipod, mp3 player or cd player you can have a metronome for FREE!” Blank stares from students….one hand is raised “Mr. B, no one has cd players anymore….”
Here are some online resources that you can give your students- these are all FREE solutions. While I realize that these may not be the best or latest apps out there, this post is merely meant to begin the journey for the perfect metronome (and dare I say….TUNER) apps/freeware.
So the next time your students say “I can’t afford a metronome!” hand them this list:
Windows Computer:
http://download.cnet.com/Weird-Metronome/3000-2133_4-10073673.html
Macintosh:
http://download.cnet.com/AquaGnome/3000-2025_4-40544.html
iphone/ipod touch/ipad
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simple-metronome/id350401073?mt=8
Android
mp3′s that can be burned onto cd:
http://www.reztronics.com/prod01.htm
Please feel free to post your favorites as well!
Hi Owen,
It’s a great age in which to learn music. There’s so much creative and educational opportunity offered by new technology. With the advent of so much computing power in small devices there’s a proliferation of programs that can sit on your music stand to assist. I’m a classically trained pianist and software engineer and have been teaching my three children piano. One of the things they’ve struggled with is music rhythm notation so I’ve written an iPhone App “Dr Rhythm” that helps them out.
If they come to a section of music that they’re unsure of the rhythm of they can tap the notes/rests/ties/triplets into the App, set the time signature and speed (Italian notation or BPM) and hear what it’s supposed to sound like and see the currently playing music event.
It’s available now in the App Store and there’s more information on my website at http://www.farnellcomputerservices.com/drrhythm
Best Wishes
Jim
Thanks for Dr Rhythm!
I definitely know the feeling of that blank stare even after you’ve listed off a handful of places that they can use a metronome! I find that my students are engaged by the onscreen metronome and tuner on SmartMusic when I project it on the white board.
I also use it my smart board- very engaging.
Thank you for posting this. Have you found most of your students are able to download these aps as well? Do they have a cost?
Thanks,
Christine
Christine- You can easily find free apps in the app store (iphone) or android market. Thanks for reading!
Thanks so much for the download links!
There is also a great FREE metronome app for iPhone/iPad produced by Steinway. Looks really sharp, is easy to navigate, and you can’t beat the price!