Lesson #2: Perfect Practice – Walter Runge Music

Meet Walter Runge

A Jazz Maestro Redefining the Music Landscape

These lessons are to be contemplated, but the teacher/student relationship in a Live Setting is crucial to real learning.

A lesson is the only place to experience a cooperative example of what I am explaining in an essay or an abbreviated video.

LESSON #2:

Perfect Practice, Practice Perfect

1/19/2025

Playing a song perfectly when you are performing is possible when you play it perfectly while you are practicing the song.

If you don’t want to make a mistake while performing a song for an audience, then do not make any mistakes while practicing the piece.

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice.

I would say Perfect Practice.

What does perfect practice look like; or better yet…what does that sound like?

For one, play what you are practicing at a tempo that allows you to play it correctly.

Whatever your goal is for that particular run through, play it at a speed in which you can satisfy that goal.

Pick a single goal to accomplish each time you play that pass.

Here are a few examples of my typical practice goals. These may change each and every time I venture another pass, as does my TEMPO.

I am perfecting the fingering. I am working on a rhythm. Make it more staccato, make it more legato, etc. But each pass will be played at a slightly different tempo.

Walter Runge teach a young lady a keyboard and piano lesson

Working on small parts or phrases will allow you to play that phrase many times in a short period of time, at many different tempos. There are so many things you can perfect in your practice time while making small changes in the tempo of the piece.

Some people spend so much time trying to play faster that they struggle to play slowly and still maintain a consistent Feel to the tune! I’ve heard too many people say, “can we play it faster? It is easier if I speed it up”!

Tempo is one element of playing that will be subject to outside forces. The audience, a different drummer, a conductor, or a band leader will determine a new tempo for you to play a song. Your mood, what you ate, or didn’t eat, the weather, a conversation, joy, pain, sunshine, rain, will all affect tempo. It is best to have a broad spectrum of tempos well rehearsed for every song you know! So when that crazy drummer you just met counts the tune off at Warp 9, you just smile and enjoy the ride! When the sax player counts you in on a seductive ballad, it puts you in the mood rather than makes you sweat.

Please keep in mind; you are not speeding up the tune…you are changing the tempo.