 To freshen up your technique and reengage your attention, try the following articulation and dynamic patterns. Remember technique is how musicians learn to control their instrument, build their interpretations, and execute beautifully.
1, Legato 2. Staccato 3. Legato in the right hand and staccato in the left. 4. Legato in the left hand and staccato in the right. 5. Crescendo to the middle and then diminuendo to the top. 6. Play one octave in quarter notes, then two octaves in 8ths, then three octaves in triplets, finally four octaves in 16th notes. 7. In contrary motion. This can be challenging when playing broken chords or arpeggios. 8. Scales played in formula patterns 9. Use a metronome, vary the tempo. 10. Play with your eyes closed! 11. Play with emotion. Check out last week's blog with Hilary Hahn for ideas.
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Play your technique (scales, chords, and arpeggios) allegro and pianissimo or quickly and softly. The first challenge will be not to slow down or tense up. The second challenge will be to maintain an even tone.
If I can help you, please call me. David.  I'm always trying out new ideas with students to keep it fresh for us both. This warm-up assumes you know the correct fingerings for each position. (The right scale at the 10th starts with 31234 etc. The broken chords and arpeggios in the right start with finger 1.) This exercise should be transposed into a different key at each practice session. Tempo markings are only suggestions. If I can help you, call me. David Revised August 2022 
How to play fast comes up in lessons frequently. Here are some ideas to get you started.
Let's get the basics out of the way first.
Now some often-overlooked facets of quick playing.
If I can help you, call me. David  Steps to successDay One
1. Dust off the metronome. 2. Set it at 60. Also known as 60 BPM (Beats per minute) 3. Practice counting aloud to the metronome: 1-2-3-4, one number per click. 4. Continue counting aloud and clap measures 1 to 9. 5. Continue counting aloud and play the right-hand notes measures 1 to 9. Counting aloud is the imperative step for success. 6. Add the left hand and repeat measures 1 to 9. 7. Move the metronome to 70 BPM and repeat the passage. 8. Call it a day. Day Two 1. Repeat yesterday's steps with the whole notes at 80 BPM. 2. Reset the metronome to 60. 3. Practice counting aloud to the metronome: 1-2-3-4 one number per click. 4. Continue counting aloud and clap measures 10 to 14. 5. Continue counting aloud and play the right-hand notes measures 10 to 14. Counting aloud is imperative for success. 6. Add the left hand and repeat measures 10 to 14. 7. Move the metronome to 70 BPM and repeat the passage. 8. Call it a day. Day Three 1. Repeat yesterday's steps with the half notes at 80 BPM. 2. Reset the metronome to 60. 3. Practice counting aloud to the metronome: 1-2-3-4 one number per click. 4. Continue counting aloud and clap measures 15 through 18. 5. Continue counting aloud and play the right-hand notes measures 15 through 18. Counting aloud is imperative for success. 6. Add the left hand and repeat measures 15 through 18. 7. Move the metronome to 70 BPM and repeat the passage. 8. Stop for the day. Day Four 1. You know what to do. If I can help you learn to count aloud while playing, call me. David Revised August 2022 Tension is the enemy of speed. At some point you will have to practice fast to play fast. Will it be pretty? No. But it will get better. Try this. After mastering the piece at a slow tempo, isolate a single phrase or section and start speeding it up, pausing between repetitions to catch your breath. I've demonstrated this in the video below. The faster I played the D major scale, the lighter my touch became because tension is the enemy of speed. As Jamey Aebersold pleaded one day to his jazz campers. "Don't practice everything slow!" David revised October 2022 |
You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail. AuthorI'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. Categories
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