Editing Metronome (section)

=== Positive views ===
The metronome is usually viewed positively by performers, teachers, conservatories, and [[musicologist]]s (who spend considerable time analysing metronome markings). It is considered an excellent practice tool because of its steady beat, being "mathematically perfect and categorically correct".<ref>Farrell, Aaron Michael (2004). [https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/1263/ ''A Practical Guide to Twentieth-Century Violin Etudes with Performance and Theoretical Analysis''], p. 23. PhD Thesis at Louisiana State University.</ref> This removes guesswork and aids musicians in various ways, including keeping tempos, countering tendencies to slow down or speed up unintentionally, monitoring technical progress, and increasing evenness and accuracy, especially in rapid passages. Metronomes are thus commonly used at all skill levels, from beginners to professional musicians, and are often recommended to music students without reservation.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://faculty.ithaca.edu/mauk/docs/makemetronomefriend.pdf |title=Make the Metronome Your Friend |first=Steven |last=Mauk |journal=Saxophone Journal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616093241/http://faculty.ithaca.edu/mauk/docs/makemetronomefriend.pdf |date=1997 |archive-date=2010-06-16}}</ref> As commentator/violist Miles Hoffman wrote in 1997: "Most music teachers consider the metronome indispensable, and most professional musicians, in fact, continue to practice with a metronome throughout their careers."<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e6GcPB5v0yIC&pg=PA134 |title=The NPR Classical Music Companion |last=Hoffman |first=Miles |publisher=[[Houghton Mifflin Harcourt]] |year=1997 |isbn=978-0618619450 |page=134}}</ref> Some musicians took this view almost as soon as the metronome was invented in the early 19th century.<ref>Petersilea, Franz. [https://books.google.com/books?id=wRVOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA330 "On Rudimental Instruction on the Piano"] in ''Dwight's Journal of Music'', Vol. 18, No. 15 (1861), p. 330; translated by G.A. Schmitt from ''Neue Zeitschrift für Musik'', Vol. 50, No. 3, 11, 16 (1859). "Correct time is considered indispensable; then why not use the Metronome. Hummel has recommended it in the strongest terms. My regard for it is such, that for twenty-five years or more I never taught a pupil without it."</ref><ref>Parker, John R., compiler (1825). [https://books.google.com/books?id=vw4AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA214 ''A musical biography: or, Sketches of the lives and writings of eminent musical characters'']. Stone & Fovell, pp. 214–215. "The Metronome ... indicates the way and proper method of obtaining all the benefit to be derived by the exhibition of true time in the tuition of music."</ref> The online book ''Metronome Techniques'' includes a "Potpourri" chapter with dozens of quotations from music teachers in favour of metronome practice.<ref>Franz, ''Metronome Techniques'', [https://www.franzmfg.com/mtbook/MTBOOKch2.htm#chiii-contents "Chapter 3. Potpourri"]. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110711023055/http://www.franzmfg.com/mtbook/MTBOOKch2.htm#chiii-contents Archived] from the original on 2011-07-11.</ref>