Time

Hey, I would like to add to this question. How are you able to think melodically at high speeds rather than just wiggling your fingers?

 

may I add this to the questions above; what is the role of relaxation when you play at faster tempi (if that applies)? Its difficult for me not to tighten up or try to play too hard - which results in getting bogged-down.
Thanks!
JS

 

Thanks for the Podcast Janek !! Great stuff as usual .

 

I think the question of speed and time comes from working on a lot of this stuff very slowly for a very long time. I would always work ideas at a funerals pace for hours and hours and slowly bring up the metronome tempo while still maintaining all the aspects of relaxation. I think it has a lot to do with touch also. When I was shedding technique and building up these muscles in my fingers I was always aware of the quality of sound I was getting from the instrument. I wanted to make sure the notes were clear and under control without digging in too much and compromising the performance. It's easy to start digging in when you get tired and your chops are running out, but that's quite the opposite of what you need to do. You'll increase your stamina by relaxing more and not digging in so much.

I'm able to think melodically at these speeds and tempos because as much as I worked on the technical stuff at slow tempos, I also worked on the content down there too. The more something is a muscle memory reaction the more free it can flow as a musical idea. And then it's a question of piecing together the words and phrases into sentences to put together the story you want to tell. It's just like language in that sense. I'm touch typing right now, in english, and conveying many rather complex ideas through the written word. I would do the same through speech if this was a masterclass or a clinic, and playing music is no different. The more fluent you are in the language of improvised music the more your ideas will flow no matter what the tempo.

Janek