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"Speeding Up!" by Mary T. Folta

Young pianists are usually impressed by the fast playing of the artist. They are amazed, and sometimes conclude that the artist is possessed of some divine power of quality. Whatever the difficulty, he is at ease, at any speed.

Yet even the young musician may acquire the speed of the artist. It is a matter of knowing how. Knowing how, combined with persistent and regular practice, will bring about the ideal.

Speed in playing is a gradual acquisition, sometimes almost imperceptible. Like any other undertaking, it is accomplished by systematic effort.

Suppose you are studying the scale of C. What is your speed? Is it four notes to the beat, with the metronome at 160 or 80? It may even be considerably less. Whatever your present speed, if you can play the scale smoothly and evenly, good!

Now increase the speed of the metronome ten to fifteen beats. The chances are that your playing will be uneven, because certain notes do not "come out." To correct this, take a few notes at a time. Take five notes, four to one beat, and the fifth for the accent of the next group. Begin by playing one note to each tick of the metronome, then two, then four. If there is any weakness, say with the fourth finger, or difficulty in passing the thumb under, take those notes separately and very slowly till the trouble is conquered. Do this with any difficulty which arises. When everything is going satisfactorily, move the regulator of the metronome to the next speed notch, and so proceed till you have reached the desired movement.

It is one thing to play fast when alone, and another when before an audience. Before a filled room, self-consciousness is so apt to get into control. Never attempt your maximum speed in public. If you can play your piece at M.M.=144, keep it at the most prudent pace of M.M.=136. You may thus retain self-control, avoid excitement and nervousness, and draw upon your reserve. If you attempt it at M.M.=144, you have no reserve upon which to draw, and the least slip is fatal.

Keep a daily record of your speed progress. Each day add either to your rate of movement or to the style of playing something at the former speed. Persistence in this will finally carry you to the goal.

About this article

This article, written by Mary T. Folta, was taken from the September 1923 issue of "Etude Musical Magazine."

Emily Sigers
emily@thepianopages.com