Dealing With Mistakes
After perfecting the broken-down passage, reduce the tempo again and bring the rest of the (horizontal) parts back. For example, if the problem was in the left hand, practice many repetitions with left hand and pedal, then left hand and right hand, and finally all parts together. Work towards several repetitions at a slightly faster tempo. Repeat this process until reaching proficiency at a designated tempo. The entire process may need to be repeated in two, three, or more practice sessions in order to internalize the new habit.
You may not need to record the date and tempo for this kind of “problem fixing.”
What if the old problem creeps back in? It means that you have not yet replaced the old habits with new. Perhaps you raced too quickly through the steps, playing too fast too soon. Or perhaps you have not followed through with repeated exposures over time. Remember: it took time to learn incorrectly, and may take even longer to replace. Save yourself time by making a habit of practicing slowly enough to stay in control from the very beginning.
