I'm starting Gaspard, particularly the Scarbo, slow or fast?

[musicsdarkangel]

I can practice it fast, and clean it up later,
or I can practice slowly, and gradually increase the speed.



What are your opinions on slow vs. fast practice from the getgo?

[chopet]

practice slowly and gradually increase the speed.

[cherub_rocker1979]

If you practice it slowly at first you'll learn it much faster.  I'm working on Ondine right now, it's such a beautiful piece.

[arensky]

practice slowly and gradually increase the speed.

Yes

[pita bread]

Learn the passages slowly with great detail, but establish a tempo... let's say around 2/3 full tempo and strive to push each passage to that tempo soon after you learn it. You're going to need to learn lightning reflexes for something like Scarbo and slow practice isn't going to help you much.

[lombardian]

Ill tell yall this once and once only: Slow practice is faster than fast practice

peace

[contrapunctus]

What is Gaspard?

[cherub_rocker1979]

Ill tell yall this once and once only: Slow practice is faster than fast practice

peace

This is so true.

[cherub_rocker1979]

What is Gaspard?

Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit.  Go listen to it, it's the greatest Impressionist work.

[zheer]

If you practice it slowly at first you'll learn it much faster.  I'm working on Ondine right now, it's such a beautiful piece.

    The slow way is the fast way, so i have heard.

[musicsdarkangel]

If you practice it slowly at first you'll learn it much faster.  I'm working on Ondine right now, it's such a beautiful piece.

It sure is.  I wanted to start with Ondine, but my teacher said Scarbo first, because sometimes pianists will learn the other two, and will slack off on the Scarbo.

I don't mind, I adore all 3 movements.

[jlh]

I can practice it fast, and clean it up later,
or I can practice slowly, and gradually increase the speed.



What are your opinions on slow vs. fast practice from the getgo?

The only reason to practice it fast from the getgo is either to double-check the feasability of your fingering choices or find the right hand/arm motion to successfully execute a passage without tension.  For anything else, it's best to start slowly (with using the same hand/arm motions you'd use at a faster tempo) and gradually work up to a faster tempo.  If you start fast, intending to "clean it up later", you're only asking for trouble and wasting your practice time.

[lisztisforkids]

What is Gaspard?

Perhaps some of the most imagitive music ever written. Ravels masterpiece. (and very difficult to)

[ibbar]

I can't necessarily suggest a cut-and-dry approach, "slow" or "fast."  In general, I'd suggest practicing as quickly as you can, while still having complete control and concentration-pushing all the keys in fully, being aware of all markings in the score.  Sectionalizing a score for practice is another very personal thing-do whatever has worked for you in the past (I divided Scarbo into 5 sections: opening-forte chord before the repeated notes, repeated notes-ppp low note before first of two major runs, first down-up run to long ppp trill, trill to ppp where the left hand plays alone, then the right joins in with quick chords as earlier, and then from there, through the final climax, to the end).  You may want to break the piece up into more than 5 pieces, but I like to take fairly big chunks at a time.  Also, try to develop an "aural memory" of the piece, so that you can play the whole thing back mentally, in detail.