Q: How do I play faster?
A: You have to practice playing faster. BUT FIRST, you must learn your etude or piece accurately at a slower speed. Playing too fast too soon means you will probably be “practicing” mistakes.
- At first work at a speed that allows you to play the music through and not make mistakes.
- Then increase the speed over your weeks of practice until you reach your performance goal tempo.
- It is helpful to use a metronome as you work at faster speeds so that you keep the tempo and do not slow down for any hard parts!
- As students of the flute we need to choose a performance tempo that is musical for us.
Exercises for Playing Faster
Intermediate Level
Nikolai Platonov
Thirty Studies for Solo Flute
Edited by Ervin Monroe
#1 in C Major – Good early exercise to practice speed.
#4 in e minor – Melodic exercise for speed and middle finger F# practice.
#28 in d minor – Good for practicing speed and breathing.
YOUTUBE:
Mio Flutes – Learn to Play Fast with Good Technique