Piano fingering

[crazyaustrian1]

I've been learning Mozart's Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman" and noticed that in some parts i just can't get up to speed, it feels like my hand just wont go any faster, like its stuck, if that makes sense. Is this a question of inappropriate fingering or lack of skill/practice?

Thank you!

[jimbo320]

Practice  practice  practice!
Not all pieces advance at the same length of time...

[sucom]

I don't generally advocate using a metronome while practising because music shouldn't be mechanical - it has to flow in the same way that nature flows, like the rise and fall of the waves in the sea.

However, a metronome can be really useful for increasing speed.  I used this method to speed up the beginning of the presto section of the third movement of Beethoven's Appassionata.  I set the metronome to beat on the quavers at a speed I could comfortably maintain, ensuring complete accuracy and expression.  In other words, being able to maintain complete control. 
Then I increased the metronome by just 5 and played through the section again.  Such a small increase is barely noticeable but the most important thing was to ensure complete control.  Then I would increase by 5 again and continue increasing by 5 until I reached a point where I began to lose control.  Then I would stop.  The result of practising sections like this allowed my starting and ending speeds to increase by just a small amount each time I practised.  So, for example, (I can't remember offhand the actual speed but you get the idea) I would initially start at a speed of 30 and increase to 50.  The next day, my starting speed would be 35 and increase to 55.  Then 40 to 60, and so on. 

The most important thing was to ensure that I remained completely in control of what I was playing and only towards the end would I begin to lose control.  At the highest speed each day I would be pushing myself to retain control, which is also helpful in speeding up.

So the most important part of this exercise is to speed up while maintaining full control and then only pushing yourself to stumble at the highest speed attempted at which point you  start all over again.  You wouldn't be helping yourself if you play at a speed where you are not in full control - remaining in control is the key, except at the highest speed of each practice session. Gradually pushing yourself to maintain control and speed up at the same time is the most important aspect of practising a section like this.

It does require some patience, but it's worth it in the end. You might find yourself amazed at the speeds you can reach over a period of time

[keyboardclass]

I've been learning Mozart's Variations on "Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman" and noticed that in some parts i just can't get up to speed, it feels like my hand just wont go any faster, like its stuck, if that makes sense. Is this a question of inappropriate fingering or lack of skill/practice?

I would say probably inappropriate technique.  Nimbleness in piano playing is neither taught nor appreciated these days.