Up and Back-Up
The metronome is a wonderful training tool. In addition to providing steady tempos and measuring beats per minute, the metronome helps to structure your practice and boost tempo.
When the goal is increasing performance tempo, it is critical to be patient and to adopt this rule: Start Slowly.
Practicing slowly, allows you the opportunity to focus on the details, which gives your ears and hands the time needed to diagnose pitch accuracy. Once the passage that you are practicing is accurate in a slow tempo, then you are ready to work on increasing the tempo, while retaining precision.
Many musicians practice with a metronome and repeat sections by increasing BPM only. Although this does help to build speed, it does not include slower repetition review. One problem with only increasing BPM is that you may “hit a wall” — reach a tempo comfort limit.
Structuring your metronome practice time to always include slower tempo review drills while increasing tempos, backs-up your progress.
Keep your fingers close to the string and direct the bow with smaller motions.
Here is how the “Up and Back-Up” method works:
Continue the “UP and BACK-UP” process until you pass the goal tempo.
Then perform the passage 3 times correctly at tempo. Practice coins help!
G Major Home Violin Two Octave Scale in 1st Position Viola Pitches in 1st Position Cello Pitches in 1st Position
Bass Pitches in 1st Position Violin and Viola Left Pinky Note Options Pinky Power-Ups for Violin and Viola
Violin G Major Scale in 3rd Position Viola G Major Scale in 3rd Position Cello 4th Position on the A-String
Bass One Octave G Major Scale on 1 String Two Octave G Major Scale for All Instruments Boosting Performance Skills
“Add-a-Note” Scale Pattern Exercise “Eighth Note Jumps” Interval Leap Practice Up and Back-Up Practice Technique
Coordination Drills Melodic Minuet G Major Waltz
Bass Pitches in 1st Position Violin and Viola Left Pinky Note Options Pinky Power-Ups for Violin and Viola
Violin G Major Scale in 3rd Position Viola G Major Scale in 3rd Position Cello 4th Position on the A-String
Bass One Octave G Major Scale on 1 String Two Octave G Major Scale for All Instruments Boosting Performance Skills
“Add-a-Note” Scale Pattern Exercise “Eighth Note Jumps” Interval Leap Practice Up and Back-Up Practice Technique
Coordination Drills Melodic Minuet G Major Waltz
