1. "Grooving" - start slowly (half of MAX.),
gradually accelerate (ca. 10%) to MAX.
MAX = fastest tempo
previously achieved.
MAX is unknown the
first day one begins a new passage.
2. "Grouping" - The "PIE
PRINCIPLE" or, “Beat to Beat” Think of your music as as if it were a pie,
breaking into Pie - Piece - Bite). 1st day; groove in groups, then as is. 2nd, 3rd, 4th
day - groove as is, then in groups after difficulty is reached.
N.B. The next nine categories may require the use of printed
musical examples which are currently unavailable on this web site.
3. Rhythms
A. dotted
B. 3/8, etc.
4. "Segmentation"
A. 3-note, perhaps others
B. Plateau tempi can be used, viz., 60, 80, 100 etc.
5. "Slow-Fast" (mental-physical) A. 2-4, 4-8, 3-6, 6-12, etc.
6. "Whip-its" - (cf. Barret Oboe Method, pp. 19-46) A. 2's, 3's, 4's,
etc., ad infinitum Play four times ea., as fast as possible.
7. Eliding the beat or measure. A. Techniques 1- 5 can be combined with this as
well!!
8. Practicing backwards A. Take last note as target; back up one note, and keep
adding. Start with 2, then 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.
9. "Overdrive" or "5th gear". A. Taking the metronome and
subdividing the beat in half or in 3rds; in short, a slow beat, but fast notes in order to
achieve super high speeds.
10. "Three-note". A. This is a deeper form of Segmentation (see 4) in
which variations of the pattern are exploited, and each of the notes in the pattern are
put on the beat.
11. Interval Practice (cf. Vade Mecum for Oboe. see "Trills") A. 2 - 3
- 4 - 6 - 8 per beat. Start at 50 - 60. Then grad. increase.