How Fast Do You Practice?

[jessicamaybury]

I've heard of people practicing extreeemely sllooowly and was wondering what fits for most people. I generally get impatient and try to play both hands together at the onset, which sometimes works and sometimes really doesn't.

Just wondering what's the norm.

Also, I was watching a 7 year old child on youtube, playing the 'fantasie' impromptu and I'm completely scared of pieces like that. I feel like I'll never be good enough to play them (the fast, complicated Chopin ones). Suggestions? Advice?

[stevebob]

If you're unfamiliar with it, I recommend you have a look at Fundamentals of Piano Practice by C.C. Chang.  It's available online at no cost:

https://www.pianopractice.org/

I wouldn't describe myself as a convert or adherent to his methods, but the areas of his book that I found most valuable by far related specifically to the efficacy of hands-separate vs. hands-together and slow practice vs. fast practice.  It directly addresses the topic you're asking about.

I started a discussion thread recently discussing my reactions, and I'm putting some of his suggestions to the test right now—with a "fast, complicated Chopin" piece. 

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=37338.0

[jessicamaybury]

Is what he calls 'MP' a reality?

[stevebob]

Is what he calls 'MP' a reality?

So-called "mental play" is one of the areas in which Chang steers toward the bizarre, in my opinion.  I think that the concept is sound and sensible, but I don't see why absolute pitch would be integral to its practice.  (Nor am I aware of an iota of evidence that absolute pitch is a trainable skill, which is another specious claim that Chang makes with absolute confidence.)

Anyway, I haven't explored it with any seriousness.  It was primarily the at-tempo, hands-separate practice of "parallel sets" that interested me.  The rest ... not so much.

[jessicamaybury]

yeah I'm not sure about it. But I liked the parallel sets idea, which is not something I would naturally do. I don't practice for very long, maybe about 30-40 minutes, but, like my walking, I'm trying to build it up to longer. I find myself tiring. I guess stamina is just like any other muscle that needs to be exercised.

[pianissimo123]

You should play what you are comfortable with. If a piece seems daunting at first, take it apart
then gradually add in other parts and build up speed. Sometimes a piece speaks to you, and right
away you can 'feel it' so go with your instinct and try it slowly hands together. It depends mostly how you feel.  When I do my assignments for the week, I do the new pieces each day, and focus on the bulk of what I'm learning in the first few days. The next couple, I focus on hands together, fluency, and musicality. The day before, and day of the lesson it's all about the extra organization and the remaining loose ends.
As for 'big" pieces such as chopin's fantasie impromtu (which btw is one of my favs to listen to) , I try to think of them as a zillion tiny parts joined together as one. I often find that many of these have patterns, and sections that repeat themselves. I find it helpful to break a piece down by listening to it, then identifying the various parts.
Never stop trying though. Because if YOU want it enough, anything is possible. 

[crawfole]

I just started taking lessons after a 14 year break.  I always practiced left hand right hand until I was familiar with the fingerings and then combined both hands.  When I started again, before my lessons, I was impatient and was using both hands and going slowly.  Now, with my new teacher, I am back with new material RH LH Together especially difficult passages.

[pianissimo123]

That's good. It sounds like you are progressing at a very steady rate. It is easy, though, to
begin to get impatient or frustrated after awhile.  It's alright though. Because it means that you
are out growing material you are confident with so to speak, and moving on to that which is more involved. It must be challenging trying to mantain your piano playing ability while raising children at the same time. Kudos to you. Don't worry though. Learning gets better with time. You come to find yourself growing into your music......and that in itself can be very rewarding.