FERNA is the way you should practice when you are learning a new piece for the first week. Split each piece into sections (about four measures each). Always start learning the last section first. If the section is only one hand, play it through using all steps of FERNA. If there are two hands playing in the section, do the following: play the right hand using all steps of FERNA, left hand using all steps of FERNA, and then hands together using all steps of FERNA. If you do this, you will learn your pieces consistently well and will progress faster than those that do not.
1. Fingering: Put in all fingering. We cannot begin your piece until all fingering is written in. There are no exceptions to this rule in my studio. Play with all of the finger numbers correct (start on the right note), fingers curved (knuckles sticking out, not sinking in) with thumbs curved under hand or resting on key (thumbs never up in the air or hanging below the piano).
2. Expression: All dynamics and phrasings followed and wrists up at the end of slurs and on staccatos. Focus on articulations (legato, staccato, accents). If the piece ends with a half note or longer, lift your wrists on the last note (and other similar places).
3. Rhythm: Play exactly with the metronome or a steady beat. Keep going no matter what happens. If you can’t do the rhythm correctly, then clap to the metronome on the keyboard or put it on a slower tempo until you can do it right and you know it is correct. Use the rhythmic syllables to help you feel a steady pulse.
4. Notes: Play all notes correctly. If you have to make a pause to get all the notes, that is fine. Do not settle for anything less than 100 percent accuracy though.
5. All Together: Play entire section/piece through. Which parts did you do well on? What parts do you need to do better on? Take note of the improvements needed so you can work on them first on the next day of practice. Congratulate yourself for your progress. Your goal for each piece or section should be to have all steps perfectly at the same time by the end of the week.
2nd WEEK: “Five Times a Day” Practicing
After the first week, you should be able to play through all aspects of FERNA at the same time. Play each section 5 times a day during the second week focusing on all aspects of FERNA each run-through. Make sure to add one measure after and before each section so you can be confident in transitions. After each section is played once, evaluate yourself. If you miss a component of FERNA, write down the step you will focus on for the next run-through. You will see yourself improving immediately. If you have 5 sections to work on, you might consider starting at the last section, then the second to last, etc. Make sure each section flows into the next with ease.
2nd WEEK to PERFORMANCE
How to increase tempo
1) Find your current “perfect” speed per section with the metronome—today! It doesn’t matter how slow/fast you have it. Once you have it at a certain tempo, don’t go slower if it needs to be faster. You’ll never get fast enough if you don’t keep pushing the tempo. For example, you might have 20 different speeds in a 5-page section, but find out the perfect speed for each section and try to push the tempo. When you can’t play it accurately anymore, record one speed under your “inaccurate” speed and that is where you are at tempo-wise because it was perfect before.
2) Figure out your final goal speed and how many speeds you are away and how many speeds per day you need to move up to meet your time goal. Make sure you have a date to reach your goal (this is either two weeks before the end of the college semester for college students or monthly master class in my private studio)
3) Move up 1 click for every perfect play through in a section. Once you move up NEVER move back.
4) With really fast pieces, the final tempo comes with time. Once you reach 3-5 speeds away (the temporary final tempo) from final tempo start to use the full chart. Force yourself to play up to tempo (even if you miss half the notes) with recordings or the metronome so you can feel how the notes come together. The muscles will be able to start to comprehend how they should work at the fast tempos. If you think it will just get up to tempo one day, it won’t. You have to push yourself daily. The shapes and motions in arms become smaller at fast tempos.
Full Chart (once the piece is up to tempo and to keep it maintained/solid)
1) Play through the piece/section or entire recital before you practice (it gives you an idea of how you really have it. When I get to the point I can play really well on that first try I know I have the piece. It also points out where I am weak so I know what to focus on for the day).
2) Practice the parts that need the most focus on. Use “spot work” as necessary. For memory I recommend practicing with your eyes closed, recording yourself, performing for other people, and doing “in a rows” perfectly (5x in a row perfectly, 10x in a row perfectly - keep upping the number until your memory is solid).
If you have a fast passage and need to get it faster, work this way: 5 times high-loud fingers (in whatever hand has the fast notes), 5 times pushing into the keys with great strength, hands together (medium tempo) and 5 times at current perfect tempo. If you do that for a week, you'll be ready to increase speed because you will have built up your muscles.
• Final Speed (without music or metronome, video yourself, play cold, play for others)
• Slow RH (without music)
• Medium HT or HA (with music, watching every detail carefully)
• Slow HT (without music)
• Final Speed (with the metronome)
• Slow LH (without music)
• Medium HT (without music, but thinking of every detail carefully)
• Final Speed (without music or metronome)
Slow, medium and fast tempos: Fast tempo is the final tempo you are currently at (no matter how fast or slow it is). Slow tempo is 10 tempos (on standard metronome) below final tempo. Medium is 5 tempos below the fast tempo.
If you are short on time, just make sure you do 1x Final Speed and 1x Medium every day. I track very carefully, taking notes after a play through or recording myself and listening back, which sections that need more practice and I will often full-chart those sections (the bullets above are the “full chart”). Then you just do one of the slow tempos per day, like this: Day 1 HT slow. Day 2 RH slow. Day 3 HT slow. Day 4 LH slow. Etc.
Metronome Speeds
40
42
44
46
48
50
52
54
56
58
60
63
66
69
72
76
80
84
88
92
96
100
104
108
112
116
120
126
132
138
144
152
160
168
176
184
192
200
208
Another Example of FERNA practicing in a Rachmaninoff Prelude:
Prepping the score (including all fingering):
Hands Alone FERNA, section 1 (including analyzation, pedaling):
Hands Together FERNA, section 1 (Write in your own feelings, translate terms):
Hands Alone FERNA, section 2 (getting details hands alone and feeling good while you practice, practicing correctly):
Hands Together FERNA, sections 1 and 2 (progress, combining sections, changing necessary fingerings at the beginning of this process, listening to recordings, taking initiative, meeting your goals and keep improving)
