Pattern repetition

[quietnoise]

If you were to take a standard pattern, say 1-4-2-5 in the right hand, and repeat it over and over with focus, would this be enough for one to be able to play the pattern flawlessly, or do you need to incorporate other things, such as accents? The reason I ask is that there is one particular pattern that troubles me and I need to be sure that I am using the most efficient method possible in order to play it effortlessly. I have the discipline to repeat things endlessly with strong focus which has been successful in a lot of respects, but I just wanted to know if this is an accepted method for aquiring proficiency?

Look forward to your thoughts

[m1469]

Do some investigative work.  Pull any pattern from something else that you can play effortlessly and investigate what are the principles involved with why you can play it effortlessly.  You may feel it's just an easy pattern, but what makes it easy for you?  At some point it may not have been easy for you if you hadn't grown in certain ways.  Is it because the motions are obvious to you?  Is it because you can effortlessly hear it in your inner ear?  Whatever the principles involved with the ease of something else are what you are aiming at in your practice towards making all things easy.

[cmg]

If you were to take a standard pattern, say 1-4-2-5 in the right hand, and repeat it over and over with focus, would this be enough for one to be able to play the pattern flawlessly, or do you need to incorporate other things, such as accents?
Look forward to your thoughts

This pattern is typically what you would find in exercises such as Pischna or Dohnanyi, and both pedagogues would complicate and maximize the worth of the pattern by having you hold 3 down as you play the others notes.  This gives independence and if the fingers are raised and high and struck forte (NO tension in the hand, wrist or arm!!), you will gain strength, no doubt.  The pattern must be played, however, slowly and deliberately for it to be useful.

However, the pattern ultimately will have a context in the piece you are studying.  And the context will dictate how much arm weight and rotation are necessary to play it flawlessly.  As incredible as it sounds, fast scales, for example, are not the single result of strong fingers but the effective, levered use of the wrist, arm and shoulder.  Most glitches in patterns played, such as the one you describe, are because, in context, you're relying on fingers alone to play them.

The wrist, arm and shoulder are as important in flawless playing as the strong fingers.

[ajspiano]

If you were to take a standard pattern, say 1-4-2-5 in the right hand, and repeat it over and over with focus, would this be enough for one to be able to play the pattern flawlessly... wanted to know if this is an accepted method for aquiring proficiency?

Define flawless. - loud? soft? legato? staccato? fast? slow? C-F-D-G? Ab-D-B-F?

do you think that the process/movements are identical for all musical variations? What you are talking about is sometimes called "cycling" and is a great way to acquire a certain degree of technique in relation to a particular sequence of notes.. but its not a be all end all solution.

You may do better to provide the EXACT example that troubles you, in context, and then allow people to offer thoughts more along the lines of why it is difficult and a solution, rather than asking if straight repetition is a valid practice tool.