Getting pieces up to tempo

[bella musica]

I was wondering what methods you all use for getting your pieces up to tempo?  I usually do the 'repetitions with the metronome, speeding it up notch by notch' routine, but it seems to me that there has to be a better way...    I just can't think of what it would be. 

I want to be able to learn pieces quickly, like in a couple of weeks, but whenever I try to do that, I always hit a dead end tempo, and then it takes me forever to get the tempo up the last few notches...

Tips, anyone? 

[zheer]

   One thing to be sure of is that starting slowly and gradually building up the speed is the wrong way of going about playing a piece of music. Obviously when you start a new piece of music learning the acctual notes is going to be a slow proecess, thus the tempo will increase as one has become more familiar with the music. For example i've been working on Rach 2 and i've noticed since i dont have a teacher and am not forced to learn this piece ( ie no deadline ) getting the first MVT up to tempo is a matter of getting more familair with the music, ie the notes, the structure, the music, and most importantly the shape and sensation of musical phrases under the finger tips. My advice to you would be dont rush anything and always play musically regardless to the tempo and have lots and lots of fun.

[counterpoint]

My advice to you would be dont rush anything and always play musically regardless to the tempo and have lots and lots of fun.

wonderful said! 

[brewtality]

 My advice to you would be dont rush anything and always play musically regardless to the tempo

What if achieving this end requires a certain tempo?

In any case, I'm quite sure Bernhard will be along shortly with a mass of links.

[desordre]

 Dear Bella:
 I've been just reading some posts by Mr. Bernhard that deals with tempo and speed walls. Take a look at the list made by himself. Very useful:
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,19582.msg212970.html#msg212970

 There is another member of this forum that have an interesting book about technique and practice (among other things) that might be of interest: Mr. Chang. I just can't remember the link, but I guess it's not too hard to find out.
 For me, there's a way that never fails, although sometimes it creates its own problems: if I get stuck with a tempo slower than the one I want, I abandon the piece for a period (six months, a year...) and then return working it. I know that it's not practical, but for me always works. However, I'm really not over concerned neither with virtuosistic display nor with events that demands such a thing (competitions and so on).
 But over anything else, listen to Mr. Zheer's advice: play musically and have lots of fun!
 Best wishes!
 PS: be careful 'cause sometimes there are no problems with technique, or speed or whatever: you just choose the wrong piece. It happens often, specially if you work with a certain degree of independence (without teacher or with one that allows you to figure out your own repertory). However, even with a "wrong" piece you can learn a lot, the sad news beeing the fact that sooner or later it will reach its "dead end", as you said.  

[invictious]

two words;

metronome


practice

[nicco]

Metronome is definately NOT the way to go to speed up pieces. As mentioned before, bernhard has already showed much much better solutions to this.

[nick]

two words;

metronome


practice

I agree. Works for me.

Nick

[invictious]

Metronome is definately NOT the way to go to speed up pieces. As mentioned before, bernhard has already showed much much better solutions to this.

How about using 2 metronomes? or even 3?

[pizno]

I'm working on the gigue of the Bach Partita in G - the second part is very tricky . But one thing, it just takes time, and more than I ever anticipate.  I do short sections at various tempos.  When it feels comfortable, then I speed it up a bit, then slow it down if I find glitches, then push it back up.  This is common sense, I think.  I rarely go through the whole piece with a metronome -it's just not in my character.  Eventually, it all comes together!