Four days in, and I am encouraged. I’m recovering some of my old confidence, and I’m rediscovering a more relaxed physical relationship with the instrument. Although I haven’t been especially been playing more notes, or faster, on day four than on day one, the notes I am playing are being played noticeably more accurately, more consistently and more musically.
I know where my particular challenges are, and I can focus on them. Unexpectedly it is Study 3, which is all about achieving a really good legato, that I am finding most difficult, and I am conscious that my hands really aren’t built for it, and there’s one stretch that I can’t physically manage. But – again – though tricky for me, the study becomes more comfortable with each practice.
So far, all is going as I hoped it would. The key is going to be my patience – resisting the temptation to run before I can walk.