Programs to Help Me Stay on Beat?

Whistle
1

Okay, the whistle is my first instrument I have ever played. So when i try to tap my feet and play at the same time it doesn’t work. It’s like patting my head and rubbing my belly at the same time…I don’t have that sort of coordination. I speed through certain parts of the tune I am playing so it sounds terrible after listening to my recordings.

Are there any good programs I can download so it plays a beat to help me stay on track?

Thanks!! :slight_smile:

~Kerry

2

Start here:

www.metronomeonline.com

KJFG

3

This question comes up a lot and you will be getting all sorts of advice and opinions! :slight_smile:

This website has a very simple metronome:
http://www.metronomeonline.com/

I find a metronome helpful. Others are strongly against using them. If you speed up and slow down, I would recommend using a metronome. Set it slow enough so that you can play in a very relaxed manner—don’t try to go fast. Get your tempo slow and even overall. Ask more questions if this doesn’t help. Keep with it. It is hard at first!

4

I got that website from kfg this morning—I should have at least given him/her credit. I’m sorry. :blush: I am sort of rushing to go somewhere and forgot my manners. I just got it from my bookmarks.

5

Here is what worked for me: Listening to lots and lots and lots of the music you are trying to play while tapping your foot to it. Do it work and whenever you can. Listen for the beat and try to land on it and stay on it. Keeping tapping away while doing other things. You’ll notice progress pretty quickly.

6

great you guys! I like that metronome site and the other idea on listening to the tunes and tapping with them. That would probably help a lot with my coordination.

Thanks so much!

~Kerry

7

I’ll second what Bloomfield said. I seem to say this alot and sometimes people disagree but you need to internalize the music and a metronome isn’t the best tool for that. Like Bloom said, listen to good irish music alot and tap your foot to it… in time you will be able to tap your foot to your own playing and it will seem natural just like breathing. Good luck.

8

Any music will work. Tapping your left for while listening to the car radio is a great thing to do.