Shhh. I have a secret. Although I knit, sew, scrapbook and plant a garden, I am a techno-junky. My newest acquisition is a 1st Generation iPad. I got a great deal at Best Buy since the Gen 2 is out and it was an open box.
So lets review an app that I’ve found that is very useful…and free. This the Ludwig Metronome app. Let’s examine the features.
Do you see the slightly shaded circle within the wheel? This is where you select the tempo you want. Just keep your finger on the circle and scroll around the dial. The tempo and its term appear in the center of the circle. The box with the lines at the top is a flashing indicator of the beat. You can use the flashing light in conjunction with the ticking sound or alone. Just select the speaker button with the x to turn the sound off and on. To start the metronome use the Play button on the left.
At the bottom you will will see 4 buttons. The one of the left shows 4/4. This is the time signature that the metronome will tick to and give an accented down beat. 2/2, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8 are available. To the right, you will see the options of Manual or Tap. To use the scroll wheel ,select Manual. To tap in the correct tempo, select tap. This would be a great feature for kids who don’t yet understand how the numbers relate to the tempo. They can tap in the speed they want to go and the metronome selects the tempo. Finally, the gear button allows for customization of the features.
This is a great app and fun for the students to use. Anything to keep students counting gets an A in my book.