Practice Guide: When is "Fast" Fast Enough?

We set the scene: You have a song to play at 100 BPM and you can play it at 100 BPM while making no mistakes. Should you keep going? YES!!!!!

Over-Prepared is Prepared

If your goal is to play a song at 100 BPM, you should be able to play it with no mistakes at 120 BPM. Then, perform it at 100 BPM. There are several reasons why we do this.

1. Nerves. As soon as you get nervous or self-conscious, your music-making can take a turn for the worse. That extra 20 BPM creates a lot of space to have fun since playing will be easy. Read more on dealing with nerves and performance anxiety here.
2. Technique. The actual movements needed to perform the music will be so much sharper and clearer at 120 BPM that when you slow it down to the goal tempo of 100 BPM, it will feel easy as pie (if someone else makes the pie).
3. Playing with Others. Sometimes someone you are playing music with can speed up, slow down, or count in the song at a faster tempo than originally planned. If you can only play at 100 BPM and the count in is given at 105 BPM you are in for a rough time.

20 BPM Faster

Always prepare your songs, pieces, and exercises to 20 BPM faster than your goal tempo. Then, take a day or two to get your feeling back for the slower, goal tempo and you are set to perform, record, or play!