In particular when practicing scales (say, C major, one octave apart, similar motion) or jazz standards, I’ve noticed that my playing becomes automated. I don’t consider every step carried out by my hands, they just do it. In one way I understand this, some things goes too fast and too many things are going on for consciously/thinking about every step. When I consider more complex things (though that scale is enough for me), such as accompanying oneself while improvising, or seeing skilled players like Chick Corea, I understand that this automation is a necessity and a goal, it seems.
My problem is, when my hands attempt this “subconscious” playing I mess up a lot. When playing my scales, or tunes I’ve practiced to boredom with, I’m too bored/neglective, resulting in that I don’t think about my hands. They attempt to do something automated, and as a result it’s almost random whether it comes out right.
Any suggestions for what to do? Otherwise I’ll go with something classic like “Slow down the tempo, break it down, and take it step by step.” The subconscious/automated stage should not be skipped I presume, the question is how to make it function, how to change it.