concert pianists practice speed

[nick]

Does anyone know if concert pianists that can perform up to tempo if they can play at that speed repeatedly, say a certain section, over and over at that performance speed? 1st hand, 2nd hand knowledge?

[Hmoll]

Does anyone know if concert pianists that can perform up to tempo if they can play at that speed repeatedly, say a certain section, over and over at that performance speed? 1st hand, 2nd hand knowledge?

Er, since practice involves a lot of repetition, I would say any section of a piece a good pianist performs can be repeated over and over at speed.

(Am I missing something here?)

[Dave_2004_G]

I didn't really quite get what you were asking, but most pianists (professionals included) don't tend to play the piece at performance tempo while practicing - there are exceptions, of course, notably Alfred Brendel

Dave

[Bob]

The concert pianists I've seen don't think too much about playing something up to tempo -- They just do it.  
It's a little scary, too.  I saw a pianist sight-reading up to tempo (Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, anything in front of him).  He was commenting about pulling off the effect of certain passage, chord progressions, expression.

I think he had plenty of technique built up already.

I have no idea of what his practice regime was.  I do know that he had prepared a recital and had that stuff down.


His playing was jaw-dropping, inspiring, and depressing all at the same time.

[thracozaag]

Does anyone know if concert pianists that can perform up to tempo if they can play at that speed repeatedly, say a certain section, over and over at that performance speed? 1st hand, 2nd hand knowledge?

There's slow practice and method practice; both have their merits.

koji

[f0bul0us]

I spoke with Bernadene Blaha (Canadian concert pianist), she said that although she has the ability to sight read an entire work all in one sitting, it's much easier to play, memorize, and interpret 3 bars at a time playing the passage 7 times, 6 times a day with atleast a 15 minute rest period.

[nick]

Thanks to all who responded. I was wondering as I am moving up in speed if the fingers can handle ones fastest speed repeatedly once one gets up there in tempo, say 126-132 with 4 notes to the beat. I  heard the concert pianist Roge Pascal perform, and spoke with him during intermission. I asked him if when getting to play as fast as he did, did he 'push' the speed continuously to play faster? He said he never plays fast, except when he has to for a performance, that he always practices slowly. This has not worked for me as slow practice once the notes were learned well only made me slower. He is French and maybe wanted to mess us Americans up! (stupid Americans, I vill fix him for a good while with hours of useless slow practice!)

[f0bul0us]

He can do that because his slow motion practice (NOT slow practice) is very intense. It's not like he doesn't play the piece at speed while at home practicing, it's just that he plays in slow motion a lot more and has a stronger, more articulating technique.

Good luck!

[nick]

Maybe, Maybe not.

[Motrax]

Nope, Superfunhappyman has it right on the money. A majority of slow practice will improve your articulation a great deal. If you play fast all the time, even if you are technically able to handle it, you will lose a lot of clarity.

[nick]

I have tried slow practice without fast playing and my own experience made it clear that speed will suffer. This is why I asked the question on concert pianists practice speed, because it could be a combination of fast and slow. As a previous post pointed out sometimes common sense does not prevail. It would seem logical that a combination would be best, so I will see from experience. There is no substitue for first hand experience to find out what the truth is. One must be careful not to overuse the mind without the experience, as I have done plenty in the past. You end up with lots of great thoughts, but not much truth! But you are correct in that if you play fast and are not honest with yourself as to the clarity and perfection, that can do you no good.
Nick

[thracozaag]

Nope, Superfunhappyman has it right on the money. A majority of slow practice will improve your articulation a great deal. If you play fast all the time, even if you are technically able to handle it, you will lose a lot of clarity.

 Depends on how you practice up to speed.

koji

[nick]

'Depends on how you practice up to speed'

Could you elaborate on this?
Nick

[thracozaag]

'Depends on how you practice up to speed'

Could you elaborate on this?
Nick

 
 Sorry..not gonna give away my secrets....

koji

[Hmoll]

 
 Sorry..not gonna give away my secrets....

koji

In the "the worst you could say is 'no'" category. I'd love it if you PM'ed me how you practice. Your trade secrets would be safe with me. I'm just a simple amateur who wants to get better.

[nick]

'Depends on how you practice up to speed'

Could you elaborate on this?
Nick  


 
 Sorry..not gonna give away my secrets....

koji  


It is interesting that you are participating in this Forum.
Just make sure you put your secrets in your will to your children or grandchildren so they can benefit from them.
Nick

[thracozaag]

'Depends on how you practice up to speed'

Could you elaborate on this?
Nick  


 
 Sorry..not gonna give away my secrets....

koji  


It is interesting that you are participating in this Forum.
Just make sure you put your secrets in your will to your children or grandchildren so they can benefit from them.
Nick

 Sorry, not going to have any kids

koji