1) To learn to play in time. Most people left to their own devices will NOT play in time. The 'nome does not lie and will quickly expose any timing issues.
2) It gives the ability to set goals. If you can play a passage at 100 bpm (beats per minute) right now but want to hit 120, that is an actual attainable goal as opposed to just wanting to get "faster".
3) One of the great benefits of using a metronome is that it can help you learn or absorb new things or ideas faster than without one. Remember: Practice does NOT make perfect, practicing RIGHT makes perfect. Here is how I have seen this play out- A student is learning something new, whether it be chords, or a new scale, etc. The tendency for most people is to take that new idea or concept and play it as fast as they can, even though it is not in time and they are making serious mistakes. I have had students on multiple occasions say "I can't play that. It's too hard". Most of the time, they CAN play it, they are just not approaching it correctly. I will turn on the metronome and set it to a tempo that is terribly slow. Sometimes as slow as 40 bpm if necessary. I will ask them to play. Usually they will be able to play it perfectly. After 7 times perfect I will raise the metronome by 5 bpm. Continue to repeat the process until mistakes become frequent. I have had students leave playing something at a pretty fast tempo after they told me they couldn't because they slowed it down with a metronome and practiced it correctly.
Good luck on the musical journey! -Steve
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