Arabesque 1 Debussy, triplets and octaves together

[faa2010]

Hello,

I have started to play Arabesque 1 of Debussy since June, but I haven't advanced as I wanted, I am right now in one page and a half.

The main problem is when I have to play at the same time the triplets with the octaves, I can play them well separately, and together if I play them at a very slow tempo (thanks to a tip of one of my teachers), but if I accelerate, I lose the synchronization between my two hands.

What could be the problem?, do you know how can I solve it?

Thanks before hand.

[hfmadopter]

Yes, you are trying to bring the tempo up too quickly ( too much too soon). Just do an ever so slight increase at a time. Also be sure that you are really positive that you have it down pat at the slow tempo. Don't just assume you do but really know that you are doing it correctly. Our minds key to the repetition, in this case it is at the slower tempo.

I'm going to tell you something a bit odd type funny. I recently had to have a stay overnight at the hospital. Before I went in I had a piece working as I wanted it and up to speed. While in the hospital, I was stuck in this little cubical for several hours. The only sound in there was the clock on the wall, the little tick, tick,tick of the digital quartz movements these day? Well that piece is in my head and I started repeating it in my head in time to that darned clock. I've been messed up with the piece ever since I got home ! I now have to dig it back up and get it up to speed again. So I submit to you that your internal clock hasn't yet picked up the pace too perhaps !

[bronnestam]

It is important to play at different tempi. I have the bad habit of (sometimes) playing very slow in ONE certain tempo, and then occasionally in a much faster tempo - one certain. The result is that I'm in fact learning two different pieces, one slow and one fast. So don't get stuck ...

The triplet thing in the Arabesque is rather tricky but just keep on practicing, you will get it. I started with it in 1983,  according to a note written there, and I picked it up the other day to finish it, which I never managed to do back in the days. I remember I thought it was very difficult by then, but now it is not that hard.