Mastering Speed and Rhythm in Your Playing
Student Question: How to build up speed and keep in rhythm?
One of my students recently asked a great question: “How can I build up speed and keep in rhythm?” It’s a common challenge, but with the right approach, you can master even the fastest passages. Here are some tips to help you build remarkable speed quickly and maintain precise rhythm.
1. Start Slow and Stay Relaxed
Learn the notes at a slow tempo and focus on staying relaxed with good form. Don’t rush the process; this is where you absorb the music into your muscles and bones. Even after mastering a fast passage, always revert to reviewing it at a slower tempo to maintain precision and ease.
2. Use a Metronome
A metronome is vital when it comes to building speed. For example, when practicing scales:
- Begin with whole notes
- Gradually move on to half notes, quarter notes, 8th notes, and 16th notes.
- Increase the metronome speed after the scale is mastered at a slower tempo.
4. Play in Miniature
Practice a fast, loud passage quietly, using less bow. Alternatively, practice a fast, quiet passage at a louder dynamic. This helps you gain control and finesse in different dynamics.
5. Exaggerate Your Speed
Use the principle of exaggeration to push your limits:
- If you master a fast 16th note passage at metronome = 72, increase it to 74 or 76, just outside of your comfort zone, even if it’s not precise.
- Then bring it back to 72, and it will feel slow and easy. Remember, the passage must be mastered first at a slower tempo with good form.
6. Use Rhythms to Practice Slowly at Tempo
Take a 16th note passage and alter the rhythm. This technique allows you to practice at tempo while simultaneously practicing slowly. It isolates different parts of the beat for microscopic precision. Discuss this practice technique with your instructor for guidance.
7. Bonus Unconventional Technique: Play Backwards
Try playing the passage backwards. The goal is to learn the passage inside and out (but not upside down!). This unconventional method can help you understand the structure and nuances of the music more deeply. By incorporating these techniques into your practice routine, you’ll find that building speed and maintaining rhythm becomes much more manageable.