I just would like to know the best way to increase speed while maintaining a relaxed posture and attitude? PS- I am a 46 yr old student!

-- Carol Kandoll (kandoll@mitkof.net), February 21, 2002

Answers

If you mean on a specific passage, I have always worked with a metronome, starting with a slow, comfortable tempo at which I can play the passage flawlessly, then increasing the speed one notch at a time. Increase the speed only when it can be played flawlessly at the previous tempo. It doesn't take very long to increase your speed this way, in my experience. It does take patience and good concentration, however. After working up to a good tempo, I then work on my musical interpretation, which is easier for me when I don't have to concentrate on fingerings and such. Good luck!

-- Laurie (lbrichards@att.net), February 21, 2002.

Carol,

Abby Whiteside describes outlining in her two books. It is a good tool for increasing speed. Briefly: Set the metronome for your desired final speed. Rock side to side on the piano bench once or twice per measure in time to the ticking until you *feel* the pulse. Maintaining the feel of the pulse, and working on at least 2 measures at a time, play only the first note/chord of each measure (whatever you would play on the count of "one"). When you can play this pulse comfortably, add the note that comes immediately before the count of "one", so that you are playing the counts of "and one" or "four- one" or "three-one", depending on the piece. Stay with this outline until each "and-one" automatically triggers your ear and body to play the next "and-one". Then add the note before "and-one." And so on, always adding notes that come before what you have already learned. The last notes you add are the notes that come before the count of "two."

It is not necessary to do this exercise with the metronome. It is only necessary that you always *feel* the pulse, and that you don't try to add more notes before the pulse than you can comfortably play in time. She also suggests returning often to the first outline of playing only the notes on the count of one. This is a musically valid way to proceed and it is a great way to develop a rhythmical way of playing: the count of "one" is the rhythmical result of what comes before it (also called shaping). It is also very musical to learn an outline and gradually fill in the notes that complete the outline. Read Whiteside's books; they have some good information in them.

-- alan (noname_poster@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

Carol,

Abby Whiteside describes outlining in her two books. It is a good tool for increasing speed. Briefly: Set the metronome for your desired final speed. Rock side to side on the piano bench once or twice per measure in time to the ticking until you *feel* the pulse. Maintaining the feel of the pulse, and working on at least 2 measures at a time, play only the first note/chord of each measure (whatever you would play on the count of "one"). When you can play this pulse comfortably, add the note that comes immediately before the count of "one", so that you are playing the counts of "and one" or "four- one" or "three-one", depending on the piece. Stay with this outline until each "and-one" automatically triggers your ear and body to play the next "and-one". Then add the note before "and-one." And so on, always adding notes that come before what you have already learned. The last notes you add are the notes that come before the count of "two."

It is not necessary to do this exercise with the metronome. It is only necessary that you maintain the *feel* of the pulse, and that you don't try to add more notes before the pulse than you can comfortably play in time. She also suggests returning often to the first outline of playing only the notes on the count of one. This is a musically valid way to proceed and it is a great way to develop a rhythmical way of playing: the count of "one" is the rhythmical result of what comes before it (also called shaping). It is also very musical to learn an outline and gradually fill in the notes that complete the outline. Read Whiteside's books; they have some good information in them.

-- alan (noname_poster@yahoo.com), February 27, 2002.

I absolutely urge you to try this method. You must first practice Hands Separate until you are able to play the passage at around 150% speed. After that, you should be able to play hands together easily. IF you slowly rack up speed with a metronome, you will hit a speed wall. The motion for playing fast is very unlike playing slow. It is much like trying to walk as fast as a run. When you do learn how to play fast, you are allowed to play as slow as you want with the exception that you play with the same motion. The motion in this case is a jog. You can't really jog without knowing the proper running procedures

-- Donnie Robinson (Dystord2@lycos.com), May 11, 2003.