Being able to play on time is a very important musical skill. When an aspiring pianist can play piano keys on time, they can convey melodies or arrangements that have been written down or recorded by others. They can improvise with eloquence. An understanding of rhythm is also essential to composing music.
Beginner piano players often want to skip the important investment needed to develop rhythmic sensibilities and the physical skills needed to execute rhythmic ideas. The small muscles in the hands and fingers are difficult to control, and patience wears thin. It takes time to develop the strength, speed, and dexterity needed to execute accurate performances on the piano.
A metronome is an audible timing reference. Let’s look at how to use a metronome to improve your musical timing and your overall sense of rhythm.
If you don’t already have a metronome here are a couple of options from eMedia:
1) Desktop computer: eMedia Guitar Toolkit ($4.95) or get it for free if you join the email list.
2) iOS: free iPhone version of an application that includes a metronome.
3) If you’re just getting started with the piano, check out eMedia Piano and Keyboard Method. It includes over 300 step-by-step lessons written by a professional instructor who has taught at the esteemed Juilliard School of Music. It also features an eMedia metronome built right into the software.
How to use a metronome to practice piano and improve your rhythm:
Practice anywhere and everywhere
Although it’s best to practice at the piano, you can also practice your rhythm using a low table or desk or even your lap. Hover your hands in front of you. Curl your fingers as shown in the above photo, and tap your fingertips on the surface in front of you. Of course, if you have access to a piano or keyboard then use the instrument.
Practice accuracy
The idea is to practice moving your fingers in a controlled way. The goal is accuracy. Use the metronome tick as a reference to help you move your fingers at the right time. When you are playing with accuracy on the piano, you will hear notes on the piano and the metronome ticks could be completely masked underneath.
Use simple exercises
Let’s use the finger numbering system shown below to notate some simple rhythms exercises for piano. 
Set your metronome to a slow tempo such as 60 bpm. Keep your palms above the piano keys and practice moving your fingers without moving your wrists. Tap with your fingertips exactly on the beat.
| 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 | etc.
| 4 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 4 | 4 4 4 4 | etc.
| 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 3 | 3 3 3 3 | etc.
| 2 2 2 2 | 2 2 2 2 | 2 2 2 2 | 2 2 2 2 | etc.
| 1 1 1 1 | 1 1 1 1 | 1 1 1 1 | 1 1 1 1 | etc.
Try these first with one hand, and then the other. Then try them with both hands at the same time, making sure to tap simultaneously. Increase the tempo and repeat the exercises.
Explore the options
If you want some variety, you can make up your own sequences of fingering patterns. Keep in mind that you are practicing rhythmic accuracy, so focus on improving your timing and not on the melodies.
| 5 4 3 2 | 1 2 3 4 | 5 4 3 2 | 1 2 3 4 | etc.
| 5 4 5 4 | 5 4 5 4 | 5 4 5 4 | 5 4 5 4 | etc.
| 3 4 3 4 | 3 4 3 4 | 3 4 3 4 | 3 4 3 4 | etc.
For another challenge go back to a slow tempo, and try playing two notes on the piano for every single beat. In this way, every odd finger tap is aligned with a tick of the metronome. You might write the rhythm exercise like this:
| 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 | etc.
Go back to a slow tempo, and try playing three or even four notes for every single beat.
| 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 | etc.
| 5 4 5 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 3 4 | 5 4 5 4 3 4 3 2 3 4 3 4 | etc.
| 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 | 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 | etc.
| 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 | 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 | etc.
Finally, try mixing things up. Have fun making up rhythmic challenges for yourself. Here are some ideas:
| 5 4 5 4 5 4 5 4 | 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 | etc.
| 5 3 4 5 2 2 5 3 4 5 2 2 | 4 2 3 4 1 1 4 2 3 4 1 1 | etc.
Free your mind
Simple rhythm exercises using a metronome will help you strengthen your small muscles and improve your control of these small muscles so that you can move your fingers without focused concentration. When your fingers can move freely with a high degree of rhythmic accuracy, your mind is free to consider musical expression instead of struggling with execution. Like learning to driving a car with a manual transmission, playing with rhythmic accuracy can become second nature.
Photo by Dolo Iglesias on Unsplash.