Metronomes and Recordings?

Last night we had orchestra, and we are working on a particularly challenging piece. We have been working on getting the notes for awhile, and working on getting it up to speed. But last night our conductor used an especially effective method for learning this piece. We tried in last thursday night and it was incredible how much we progressed in just one night! So he decided to use it again last night. But last night it hit me in a different way. I realized there was a great spiritual lesson here! I have been doing music or playing an instrument for most of my life, and that includes learning music! :) But I have never thought of learning music in light of my spiritual walk.

So, I bet you are wondering what method our conductor used last night that was so effective? Well, we used the metronome, and a recording of the song we are playing. Now, these are incredibly common ways to practice music, I know. But what we did, was listen to one section of the piece, and then play that section with the metronome starting slow and speeding it up until we were up to speed.

The reason why this method works is because we first listen to an example so we can have a goal in mind, what we ultimately want to sound like. Then we start playing it, but slow at first building the speed until we are at the same speed as the recording. The reason why we use a metronome for this part is because we don't have an internal beat that is perfect, much less the same as the person sitting next to you...it is close! But not perfect. So playing it with the metronome helps everybody to be on the same beat, and helps your internal beat so that the song flows perfectly.

Our conductor talked about each of these points last night, and as he was talking, I was thinking...He mentioned how if we practice without the metronome and a certain part of the song is practiced slower then another part, when you add the metronome it will seem like the metronome is speeding up! When in reality, the metronome is not changing, we are having to change our "normal" to match with the "perfect" metronome. It is the same with our walk with God. First we are to listen to the recording, or read God's word and gain a clear picture of His character. Because "by beholding we become changed". -2 Cor 3:18 Then as we practice, we are to constantly have His perfect character in our ears, (minds...same thing....lol) so we are changing our "normal" to match with His "perfect" beat. This will enable us to learn the song that God has in store for us to sing, and we will be able to play with perfect harmony and rhythm when combined with the whole orchestra.