Have you ever spent weeks practicing an organ piece at a slow tempo, only to have it fall apart the moment you try to play it at full speed? In this conversation, we explore the common pitfalls of slow practice and how to bridge the gap between technical preparation and concert performance.
We discuss why slow practice is essential but not always sufficient, the role of adrenaline during live performances, and how to naturally increase your tempo without sacrificing accuracy. Whether you’re working on Bach’s D Minor Toccata or Widor’s Toccata, these tips will help you master difficult passages and find your "peaceful river" flow.
What difficult passage are you currently working on? Can you play it slowly but struggle with the concert tempo? Let us know in the comments below!
Remember, when you practice, miracles happen!
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction: The problem with slow practice
0:27 Vidas' experience with Lithuanian Folk Suite
0:55 Why slow practice isn't enough
1:33 The steps from slow to concert tempo
2:06 Technical requirements for fast music
2:49 Why errors appear at full speed
3:48 Using short bursts to check your readiness
4:21 The danger of getting "too comfortable" slow
5:00 Secrets of Organ Playing Community & Mugs
5:51 How to approach your final tempo naturally
7:05 The challenge of Widor’s Toccata vs. Bach
9:11 Finding your own internal tempo
11:01 Gordon Young’s advice on tempo and harmony
12:56 Analogies for musical flow: Lakes vs. Rivers
14:41 How to join the Total Organist program
15:12 Question of the day: What are you practicing?
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Originally published on YouTube by Ausra Motuzaite.