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Re: Good Advice for Newer Players

Author: SecondTry
Date: 2021-08-07 19:21

Matt74 wrote:

> Why you practice slow:
>
> Practicing slow is not so that you can "speed up gradually".
> It works because that's how your brain and body learn.
>

>
> Post Edited (2021-08-06 22:54)

Matt: I don't want to be one of those pedantic jerks who comes along and nit picks at someone's advise that I don't disagree with--if not whole heartedly agree with either.

Sure: practicing slow is, as you say, the best way for our minds to commit the pattern to longer term memory: no argument.

But very often it is also, albeit as a secondary goal, so that we can, over time, take a passage faster, and at proper tempo, that was too much for us to deal with at performance speed on day 1. So in essence, practicing slow IS so that we can speed up gradually--with no loss in accuracy.

I'm by no means wishing to put words in your mouth: I doubt you even meant this, but I remember someone on the board who use to say "always practice slow."

This is stupid. It's not even a matter of opinion.

Yes: always practice at a speed at which you can take the music accurately, but always practice slow? So what, performance can be the first time at which you take it to tempo?

And of course there's merit sometimes in taking a phrase faster than at tempo so performance will seem easier.

Personally, I'm an advocate for being able to play a phrase accurately at various speeds which circle around performance tempo. It not only improves accuracy, but sometimes conductors do nutty things.

Post Edited (2021-08-07 19:22)

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BethGraham

2021-08-06 18:59