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In my E-book, I've included many basic exercises with background music to assist you in acquiring this level of keyboard performance. In other words, you will be practicing with other instrumentalists. You will hear
drums, bass and an unobtrusive piano accompaniment that provides a harmonic blanket for YOU to practice your course material!
Ideally, then, both ways of practicing should be used!
First, we should practice slowly enough to learn notes and fingerings. Then, we should "practice as fast as possible"; that is, as fast as we can without losing control of basics we learned in slow practice.
Here' how this would work. Take a short part of piece; you might choose a four- or eight-measure phrase. Practice it slowly. When you feel comfortable with music, increase tempo. Don't wait until you've practiced entire work slowly. In this way, at each sitting you'll get to learn a little section, bring it up to tempo, and feel into what is needed to bring it to life.
At next sitting, work on next four or eight measure. When you have that section brought up to tempo, combine it with first section. Now, you will begin to understand how phrases relate to each other. You can introduce idea of dynamic shading and decide which lines to bring out at a given moment. In fact, you will be making real, exciting music—even before you've learned whole piece!
As you go on in this way, you will probably change your mind about how to play work as new sections are added. This is part of process of discovery and experimentation. Concert artists are always re-interpreting, because they think about these elements all time.
So play as slowly as you need to; but as fast as you are able!
I wish you best of success.
Ron Worthy http://www.mrronsmusic.com/playpiano.htm
Ron Worthy is a Music Educator, Songwriter and Performer. He provides online piano instruction for all ages at: http://www.mrronsmusic.com/playpiano.htm
