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I am working on the tuba part to a very long and complicated work. The meter and tempo changes every few measures and one of the big challenges is counting the part correctly.

I have a Dr. Beat 88 metronome which normally is more than adequate for the job, but not in this case. I'm thinking it would be nice to find a software (or possibly hardware) metronome that will let me make a CD click track.

What I would like to do is be able to enter something like: 26 measures in 4 at 80 bpm, 12 measure in 8 at 50 bpm, etc.

Any suggestions?

Try a google search. You may be able to at least find a computer program that will do that for you.

Otherwise, you just gotta find a common tempo that breaksdown into all the subdivisions.

Like, let it at th e8th note tempo or something.

I've had pieces that alternate meter and set it to the primary meter and just marked in my music where it was supposed to re-fall on the first beat again...tricky, but did the job.

Mark wrote:I am working on the tuba part to a very long and complicated work. The meter and tempo changes every few measures and one of the big challenges is counting the part correctly.

I have a Dr. Beat 88 metronome which normally is more than adequate for the job, but not in this case. I'm thinking it would be nice to find a software (or possibly hardware) metronome that will let me make a CD click track.

What I would like to do is be able to enter something like: 26 measures in 4 at 80 bpm, 12 measure in 8 at 50 bpm, etc.

Any suggestions?

One simple solution, assuming you have access to a scripting program such as Finale or Sibelius (or a friend with such) is to create a one instrument percussion part (woodblock works nicely) and enter the beats and time signatures according to the work you are rehearsing. Also include the tempo (such as quarter note = xx) at the places where the tempo changes occur.

You can then either save as a midi file or a sound file, or simply play back the part directly from the scripting program. Either way works. Playing back from the program itself will allow you to work it at slower tempi and then gradually increase the speed as you progress.

One approach that has worked for others.

that is an idea idea. You can punch it out to cd and then play it along with you.

I've done that. Another advantage is that you can record an accompaniment track below the click track. Download it onto your MP3 player and you're all set.

You can set up programs on a Doctor Beat. It would allow you to do tempo, meter, and beat pattern changes.

TMB

Thomas Maurice Booth wrote:You can set up programs on a Doctor Beat. It would allow you to do tempo, meter, and beat pattern changes.

Yes, up to 10, which won't even get me through one movement.

JB wrote:One simple solution, assuming you have access to a scripting program such as Finale or Sibelius (or a friend with such) is to create a one instrument percussion part (woodblock works nicely) and enter the beats and time signatures according to the work you are rehearsing. Also include the tempo (such as quarter note = xx) at the places where the tempo changes occur.

I do have Finale and have considered doing this. I was hoping there would be a simpler method where I could just enter the number of measures at each meter and tempo.

the music notation idea is probably your best bet. It really wouldn't take to long if you did much copy and paste. Otherwise, the time it would take to find software or a metronome that could do what you want would take longer than just mundane clicking and etc.

Does Finale have anything like Sibelius' "R" key? (Repeat whatever was last done). There's always copy and paste.

One simple solution, assuming you have access to a scripting program such as Finale or Sibelius (or a friend with such) is to create a one instrument percussion part (woodblock works nicely) and enter the beats and time signatures according to the work you are rehearsing. Also include the tempo (such as quarter note = xx) at the places where the tempo changes occur.

You can then either save as a midi file or a sound file, or simply play back the part directly from the scripting program. Either way works. Playing back from the program itself will allow you to work it at slower tempi and then gradually increase the speed as you progress.

One approach that has worked for others.[/quote]

I do this for myself and my quartet guys when we start a new piece. I record the track at several progressive tempi and it works wonders. Then I can upload it to my PDA and have a practive accompanist in headphones that no one else can hear.

JB wrote:One simple solution, assuming you have access to a scripting program such as Finale or Sibelius (or a friend with such) is to create a one instrument percussion part (woodblock works nicely) and enter the beats and time signatures according to the work you are rehearsing. Also include the tempo (such as quarter note = xx) at the places where the tempo changes occur.

You can then either save as a midi file or a sound file, or simply play back the part directly from the scripting program. Either way works. Playing back from the program itself will allow you to work it at slower tempi and then gradually increase the speed as you progress.

Hey, thanks! Although I've used Finale before to enter tricky rhythms etc, and then play them back on the computer... I didn't know I could I could save a file as a midi to playback. I was using this method to correct something I was playing wrong in "Dance of the Comedians" last week. I mis-learned a passage where I was starting 'on the beat' instead of 'on the upbeat'. Gosh, it takes me three times as long to unlearn and then relearn. Excellent suggestion!