I’m going on an imaginary trip to Orlando today. That’s roughly 1,000 miles.
Here’s a couple of driving scenarios.
I can drive exactly 55 miles per hour, the highway minimum, for the entire way. That will take about 18 1/4 hours.
I can drive exactly 70 mph, the highway maximum, for the entire way. That will take about 14 1/4 hours.
It saves me 4 hours going the speed limit over doing the minimum.
What if I sped? If I went 80 mph, I could get it down to 12 1/2 hours.
I save a further 1 3/4 hours, but at greater risk to my car, myself, and other drivers.
What if I went 55 mph for the first 10 hours, but wanted to still get there in 14 1/4 hours? After the first 10 hours, I’ve traveled 550 miles; I have 4 1/4 hours to go 450 miles–I’d need to average almost 106 mph to make it!
Even if I only went the minimum for the first 4 1/4 hours, I’d have to average 76 mph to make it. A few hours of doing the minimum requires somewhat dramatic overcorrection to make up lost time.
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My point is this. Engaging in high-risk teaching is out of the question. We are in danger losing our students with too much pressure.
But proceeding at the minimum, day after day, is putting you at a deficit that you cannot safely overcome later in the year.
Finding a comfortable, safe, fast pace that you can maintain every day is the key to getting your choir through their journey as fast as you can.