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How do I master technically difficult measures?

To master technically difficult measures, here is a list of things I suggest:

  1. Mark off these measures with brackets in either a blue or red pen. This way, your attention is drawn to the brackets. They will remind you where you need to start when you resume your practice session. Work on these measures for about ten to fifteen minutes before moving on the remainder of the piece. As you become better at playing these measures, you will naturally spend less time with them.
  2. Relax and be patient. It is very important that you remove all the tension from your hands and fingers. Tension prevents you from playing rapidly and prevents you from playing the way you want to.
  3. Be prepared to use appropriate repetition.
  4. Be sure you know the notes and that your fingering is well defined and will work when you play at your desired tempo. Write in the notes and fingering if necessary.
  5. Work through difficult measures slowly. Depress the keys fully so that your fingers feel the final resistance. This activity will strengthen your fingers and will help you to remember what it feels like to play these measures correctly.
  6. Increase the tempo incrementally. (Use a metronome if necessary). If you get to the point where you are feeling uncomfortable, stressed, and making more mistakes than you want, slow down.

Remember, some technically difficult measures with faster tempos will require more work than others and sometimes cannot be learned in a day, a few days or even in a few weeks.

Is my playing consistent?

You play consistently when your level of dynamics, tempo choices, touch, and tone quality remain relatively the same throughout the piece. Your consistency in playing supports the character of the piece. Overall, you have thought the piece out well, understand its musical context, and have made musical decisions supporting your observations.

Do I get frustrated or mad?

Getting mad or frustrated is often a result of expectation. Expectation stems from one of two ways of thinking: First, you believe that because you can read the notes, you should be able to play them now or fairly soon. Most of the time, this is not true, especially as you progress to more difficult pieces.

The solution to lowering or eliminating your frustration level is to be aware that your ability to read the notes as a thinking process may not readily translate into playing. It takes far more time for your fingers to acquire the skills to play than it does for you to learn to read notes fluently.

Second, you played the piece well yesterday and believe you should play it just as well today. I think that's a realistic expectation and most often it happens that way, but sometimes it does not. In these and similar cases, start at a slower, more comfortable tempo and gradually increase it. Get your mind and fingers working together. If you know the piece well, it will come back quickly.

Do I have negative thoughts about my playing?

If you do, stop immediately. These are thoughts that are totally unnecessary and are created as you evaluate your own playing based on false expectations. Expecting to play anything when you are not ready either mentally or physically can lead to negative thinking.