Hi there,

I play the violin. Currently, I have a problem with speed. I have no problem when I play kind o f slow tempo (everyone can do that too). But I will always hesitate when i come across a certain part in the score that requires fast tempo. can anyone suggest how i can improve on my speed?

Hi Elizaberth

I know exactly what you mean about playing slow, I have the same problem.

I do 2 things, especially with exam pieces; I set my metronome to a given speed, when I am comfortable with that tempo which includes all the dynamics I increase the speed of the metronome by a few notches, I do this unitil I am at the correct tempo or close to it.

The other thing my teacher taught me was to use less bow for the parts that require a faster tempo. If you just practise the faster part on its own unitil your happy then practise the bar before it as well as the faster part, then 2 bars before ect.

I have found that when I have worried about approaching the fast part I make mistakes in the bars before it and trip over the whole thing.

I hope this helps.

If you set the metronome to a speed that you can play the fast section at, and then turn it up about 5 or 6 bpm - not much though, because you have to make it so slight that you don't notice it's got any faster.
Then you practice it with the metronome clicking away at that speed till you can play it fluently and then... turn it up again! Its boring - sorry, but it does help!! It's only good if you have lots of time too!

Kate

Absolutely. Three methods - do them all:

1. Practise the passage really slowly and as perfectly as you can, paying your full attention to each note.

2. Play the passage by turning each pair of notes into a dotted quaver and a semiquaver, playing the passage through with the dotted quaver first, and then with the semiquaver first. Like: long-short, long-short, long-short etc, and then short-long, short-long, short-long.

3. Memorise the passage and practise it silently in your head, visualising the fingering. Mysteriously, this can be as effective as actually playing it. It also has the advantage that you can do it at any time, though preferably not when driving.

I was interested in the three tips by Violinia. I undestand one and three, but what is the effect of the dotted note idea?

richiscoul :

Hi Violinia, I do like the sound of tha last one about memorising and visualising the fingering. I'll give that a try.