Tension in fast Liszt pieces, help please. (Suggestions, anything.)

[mjin1]

I've been working on the second hungarian rhapsody for almost a year now, and I can play most of it up to speed, however, I get tense in alot of the really fast beastly jumps. .. I also can't play certain parts full speed very consistently either...though I need to tell you my background so far.. I started taking piano lessons about a year ago. and as far as this technique goes, I have done alot of slow practice, but I haven't played these parts alot inbetween super slow (60~70bpm x2/x4) and the fastest tempo they go (168~170bpm).

My great fear is that I will have to start all over learning these parts, I've spent a great deal of time learning the harder parts of the friska.. Is there a way to get rid of tension without having to totally redo everything? .. My first instinct is to practice more relaxed on a faster tempo, but not anything near the fastest tempo. I figured this will not only increase my relaxation when playing, but raise the consistency of playing the more grueling parts correctly, because the less tension there is, the easier it is to be accurate. At least, this is what I've noticed for certain parts..

Any suggestions?

Also, I'd like to say that my teacher says it's actually ok if you must be tense for very specific small parts of the song, something like half a bar to get a really far away note, as long as you can return to a relaxed state.

If this ^ is true, then are there any ideas as to what I should be expecting as a student? I understand a 'virtuoso' would play something like this completely relaxed, but as a student should I have the same goal for the piece or is a little tension in certain spots acceptable?

Thanks for your help.

[monkeyyy]

My teacher always tells everyone to spare yourself whereever it's possible.. spare in dynamics she means.. We usually play everything to loud... when there's piano written in the score, do it!!

Further, practice also in a middle fast tempo..

[mjin1]

Thank you for your suggestion, I haven't thought alot about that. I will go through and make sure to spread out crescendos, and make sure that I'm not playing loud parts too loudly. I will also be sure to take advantage of parts that are slower and softer.

So middle tempo practice is important? 

[monkeyyy]

So middle tempo practice is important? 

Yes it is ..for me it's unthinkable not to do this... though, and I feel somewhat ashamed about this,  I'm not able to explain why exactly.. At least this is something my teacher (conservatory teacher) emphasises all the time: practise in 3 tempi: slow, middle, fast.. I'll ask her the advantages of playing in a middle  tempo if I don't forget.  Good luck :-)