If you want to learn something fast, practice slow. Sounds crazy? It’s not. It’s logical. If you’re trying to play faster than you’re capable of, you’ll make mistakes. Each time you play, you’ll most likely make the same mistakes, over and over.
The more you play it wrong, the more programmed you’ll be to do the wrong moves. Because that’s how we learn to play fluently. We practice until it’s programmed into our neurological system. The playing is now automatic and we don’t need to think at all. That’s how people can play something incredibly fast. So, by playing it wrong, you’ll program yourself to continue playing it wrong. So start slow to get it right in the first place.
Faulty reading
When you hesitate to play through it, you are also likely to miss something, or misunderstand something, so you’re thinking you’re playing it right, but you’re playing it wrong. After a lot of practicing (programming), it’s very hard and demanding to change the habit of hitting the wrong tones.
Step by step
A common fault is to move on to early, or not focusing enough at difficult parts. Don’t rush it. When you stumble, practice that little part repeatedly until you master it, or until your brain is so tired, you’re starting to play it faultier again, or you’re starting to see pink elephants. In that case, go further and play it again later in the session, or the next time you practice.
It is common to play the whole piece from the beginning each time. By doing that you won’t get enough training for the difficult parts, or even at the less difficult parts later in the song. You’ll play the first part excellent, then the quality of your playing will decrease throughout the musical piece.
Be open for starting in the middle of the song when you’re starting your practice session. That will also make it easier to get into the flow again if you play something wrong, without having to start from the beginning.
By the way, regarding the elephants, don’t push it that far. Challenge yourself and your patience, but don’t force yourself, it will only decrease your motivation. 😉
Practice slow
So, no matter how slow you need to play, you should play SO slow you can play it right. It’s easier to increase the tempo than change what you play. Then it’s also much easier to play evenly, and to add the feel you are supposed to add to the melody. It doesn’t need to sound like a melody from the first play, it will come when you are able to increase the tempo.
Here you have a lots of reasons for why you should practice slower, and I hope it inspired you to do so.
Good luck!
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