What's "perfect?"

How can you tell when you really have a passage down; REALLY down, and internalized?

Here's a good "measuring stick" for perfection. Test: Can you play it four times perfectly without a single mistake? We mean every note is clear, every intended nuance communicated, and not once but FOUR consecutive times without blemish. No fracks, no glitches, no clams.

If you play it twice but mess up the 3rd time, you have to go back and start over. No "byes" or "gimmes," it has to be perfect each time. This is an extremely good test before you even think of increasing speed, even incrementally.

Four times. It has to be perfect four times in a row before you really know it. Use this rule in your daily practicing.

Posted by Ted at January 6, 2006 12:48 PM