521 - How to Get a New Tune Up to Tempo (Dojo Class Preview w/ Carl)

How do you take a brand-new tune from slow and careful up to a confident performance tempo – without sacrificing your technique, rhythm or groove? In this Dojo U class preview, Carl works through a reel step by step, using small chunks, tempo jumps, metronome drills and single- and double-time counting to build finger speed while exposing the things that break down under pressure. Along the way, he explores why jumping between tempos can reset your perception of speed, how to stay relaxed when the tempo rises, and why finding the groove matters more than simply chasing the metronome. Here's what we cover: 00:00 – Getting a new tune up to tempo and pushing finger speed 00:57 – Warm-up technique: building the tune in small chunks 01:15 – What tends to break down at speed: crossing noises, grace notes and rhythm 08:47 – How bouncing between tempos changes your perception of speed 09:15 – Why rhythm training can take time to adjust to 19:35 – Adding foot-tapping in single time vs. double time 23:19 – How fast should a reel actually be played? Band vs. solo tempos 30:14 – How your perception of "slow" and "fast" resets after a pause 32:04 – Deliberately going very fast to reset your perception of tempo 40:16 – Finding "the groove" instead of simply hitting the metronome click 42:51 – Wrap-up: prioritising groove over mechanical execution