getting up to speed

I was wondering how folks have gotten up to performance speed with various tunes.

Playing the fiddle, there seems to be so many factors involved with going hi speed and sounding good while doing it. Right now I can play many tunes pretty well at slow jam speed. I'm trying to go faster but there is a point where the tune is compromised. Then if I play that way, I feel like I am undoing the good memory that I've worked so hard to build.

Is it just a matter of time and finger memory? Also seems like fast, relaxed bowing technique is important, along with perfect position. I wonder if I will just start being able to play everything faster as I work on my bowing, timing and position.

Just curious.
Amy

This is a great question , one which I would like to see answered

My husband plays guitar so I have accompaniment whenever I need it. He has a much better sense of rhythm and will hit the base notes harder to keep me on tempo when I stray. In the same way, he encourages (forces!) me to play at faster tempo. It's a struggle to keep up at first but it works! Playing with others and accommodating THEIR tempo choice can push you in a way that you wont do if you play primarily by yourself.

Back in 8th grade when I thought I was going to be jimi hendrix on the guitar, I ended up taking lessons with a really good guitar teacher. He put me on the metronome. I was trying to play at top rock speeds and was basically playing slop. He forced me to play down at 50 beats/minuet. He forced me to play scale exercises at 50 bpm. And then solos. I swear by playing slow that it makes you play clean, and builds coordination.
Then I play at what ever speed feels good, as fast as I can but not sacrificing mistakes. Eventually you can hang with the big boys at 110 bpm.
When I was in Ireland I had a fiddle teacher, that use to make me play tunes really slow, and walk. We had what was called the magic carpet. This was a fun game that built serious skills. A couple rules: Balance on the thin outline of the carpet pattern. DONT FALL OFF. Keep walking and moving, and keep playing.
This separates your mind from your fingers. The hardest exercise, and I dare people to try this its a mind bender. Play slow : walk really really fast as you can. You naturally want to play as fast as you walk! Its crazy. Then reverse the exercise. Take super slow steps: play as fast as you can. You will look silly but it does wonders for your playing.
The point being, tunes and music exist as sound in the air. The fastest way to put the tunes in the air, are to by pass your brain. Too much going on. Send the tune from the air to the fingers. Its the fastest route. And then store the tune memory in the rest of your body, foot tapping, leg swinging, hips ect. There is too much going on in the brain, and it slows things down.
This is how I learned irish music at mach 9. And......whiskey helps your hands from shaking, and beer just slows you down.
best
jonathan