Metheny insists that speed is a residue of precision. Set a metronome at 40 BPM. Play one note per click (quarter notes). You should be able to make coffee between notes. The goal is zero tension. If your forearm burns, you are squeezing too hard.
Unlike traditional, rigid method books, Metheny’s etudes are transcriptions of spontaneous improvisations. This "looser" format is intentional, as Metheny views warming up not just as a physical requirement, but as a way to prepare the mind for the "spontaneous creation of harmonic and melodic ideas". Metheny insists that speed is a residue of precision
If you have a specific page, exercise name, or notation excerpt you’d like dissected (e.g., “the 4‑measure Lydian arpeggio on page 3”), just let me know and I can break down the fingering, harmonic analysis, and suggested practice variations in detail. Happy practicing! You should be able to make coffee between notes