Best Metronome App? (nominations)

We know that slow practice is good for us. We also know that like it or not, the metronome is going to play a role in our slow work at some point or another.

And whether we love practicing with a metronome or hate it with a vengeance, we all own one. Heck, I have four, including my very first metronome – an old black box with a light on top that has to be plugged in (?!) to function.

Yet nowadays, smartphones are beginning to replace our Dr. Beats, Walkman cassette recorders, and chromatic tuners. We can even carry around our entire sheet music library on an iPad – and needn’t stress out about finding a good page turner.

But with so many apps to choose from, how are we supposed to know which ones are worth paying for and which ones fall short?

App deathmatch

This is the first in a series that aims to identify the top must-have apps for musicians.

Here’s the plan:

I’ll put out a post seeking nominations for the best app in a specific category
Nominate your favorite app in the comments – and tell us what makes it stand apart from the rest
On Wednesday, I’ll report back with the top recommendations and give you a chance to vote on which one is best

So…what’s the best metronome app?

There are more than a few dozen metronome apps currently available to smartphone users. They all do the regular metronome thing, but there are many other factors to consider, from cost to user-friendliness to features like background support and mixed meters.

So, which metronome app (either iOS or Android) is your favorite?

Let us know which one you think is the best in the comments below – just leave it at the top of your comment like VOTE: APP NAME HERE. And don’t forget to tell us what makes it stand out from the alternatives.

UPDATE: The call for nominations is closed! To see which your favorites made the top five, head over to Five Best Metronome Apps.

After Countless Hours of Practice, Why Are Performances Still so Hit or Miss?

It’s not a talent issue. And that rush of adrenaline and emotional roller coaster you experience before performances is totally normal too.

Performing at the upper ranges of your ability under pressure is a unique skill – one that requires specific mental skills and a few tweaks in your approach to practicing. Elite athletes have been learning these techniques for decades; if nerves and self-doubt have been recurring obstacles in your performances, I’d like to help you do the same.

Click below to discover the 7 skills that are characteristic of top performers. Learn how you can develop these into strengths of your own. And begin to see tangible improvements in your playing that transfer to the stage.

NOTE: Version 3.0 is coming soon! A whole new format, completely redone from the ground up, with new research-based strategies on practice and performance preparation, 25 step-by-step practice challenges, unlockable bonus content, and more. There will be a price increase when version 3.0 arrives, but if you enroll in the “Lifetime” edition before then, you’ll get all the latest updates for free.