I’m going to start a series of blog posts this month to help students of all ages with some tools that I’ve learned as a student and as a teacher to help in practicing. The reality is, no one likes practicing, but the only way that improvement comes is through spending time with the instrument (whatever instrument it is) and breaking the music apart into smaller sections. Approaching it with these concepts will help to build up the skills necessary to make fluid and beautiful music that has an impact on the listener.
So the first concept I’m addressing is to go slow. Yes, the old adage of “slow and steady wins the race” is at play here. But in reality, it’s the only way you’re going to develop the fluidity and have the dexterity needed to play difficult and fast passages.
My first thoughts on this topic is not primarily to piano or organ for me, but on the trumpet. On the trumpet, you only have 3 valves, so it shouldn’t be hard to play, right? Well, it’s more about manipulating and adjusting your embouchure for higher and lower notes. And of course, if you’re playing sixteenth notes or any sort of rhythmic pattern, you’ll need to work out the passages with the fingerings as well. But this was always the place for me that I needed to put this concept into practice. On piano or organ, the concept made perfect sense, but on the trumpet, I wanted to just look and the music and go. Which, of course, didn’t always go well.
Me with my trumpet for a celebration of my dad’s 75th birthday and 50th anniversary of being a pastor
Whatever your instrument, I think going at 50-60% speed to begin is such a helpful tool. This not only helps in getting the passage learning and manipulated on the fingers, but also to work out any difficult rhythm patterns that come along in the music as well. My rule of thumb is to stay at that slower speed until I can play it without mistake. Then I bump up the tempo by about 10% or so. I continue in the same manner until I get to full speed.
This way of going seems like it’s more work, doesn’t it? And it probably is, but the goal is make the music as accurate and beautiful as it can be. So minimizing flaws and errors is extremely important! Back when I was practicing the piano for lessons, while I understood the concept and need to go slow, I never wanted to. And I think it’s the challenge of human nature, especially now in this “must get it immediately” world. Doing something well and making something beautiful takes time, thought and effort.
Putting this into practical terms. If the metronome marking of the piece is that a quarter note equals 120, that’s 2 beats per second. Pretty quick, right? Well, if I’m thinking of it terms of slowing it to 50-60% speed to start, I’m looking at starting at 60-72 BPM on the metronome. That is a good place to begin. And once I get comfortable with that speed, work out the rhythm challenges and anything else that may pop up, I’ll pick up the speed!
I still put this concept into practice, 42 years after starting with my first piano lesson. It’s something that has become habitual for me, and it’s something that I encourage my students to do. It’s frustrating, no doubt, because you want it to be full speed, but in the long run, you will be less frustrated overall, and far more accurate in your musicianship! Check back next Thursday for the next practicing tool!
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