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Saturday, November 22, 2014

Using a Metronome to Practice Links

First, keep shoulders and arms as relaxed as possible when practicing. Don't tighten up. Rhythm should be steady and even. Start with a slow tempo and gradually increase the tempo.

Divide your piece into "links," like chain links, either 1-, 2-, and/or 4-beats or 1-, 2-, and/or 4-measures. Divide 16th notes into beats; divide quarter and eighth notes into measures.

Start with short links and master the rhythm and notes for each link. Using a metronome will help you keep the rhythm steady.

Play the link from the first note through the first note of the next link. In this way, you are linking the them. Repeat over and over, using the metronome set at a slow tempo, until that link is mastered.

Keeping the slow tempo, expand the link, from 1-beat to 2-beats or from 2-beat links to 4-beat links, and so on.


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