Aller plus vite que la musique

Imagine you are at a wild dance party. The beats are pumping, the music is grooving, and everyone is shaking their groove thing. In the midst of all this excitement, there is that one enthusiastic dancer who is absolutely determined to outdo everyone. They start moving faster than the rhythm of the music, as if they are in a race against time itself.  Arms flailing, legs kicking, they're like a frenzied chicken on a caffeine high.

This frenetic dancer represents the essence of the expression aller plus vite que la musique - to go faster than the music.  It's when people get ahead of themselves and rush into things without thinking, without waiting for the appropriate moment, or without realizing that they need more time, whatever the reason may be.

You'll often hear the expression in the negative form as a warning:
Ne vas pas plus vite que la musique! - Don't get ahead of yourself! 
Il ne faut pas aller plus vite que la musique! - Let's not rush into things!

But you can also use it to mean that you don't want to be rushed into accomplishing a task that requires time, as in: je ne peux pas aller plus vite que la musique - I can't go faster (if I want to do it properly.)

Origin

We find records of a similar expression in the middle of 19th century: aller plus vite que les violons - to go faster than the violins.  When playing in a group, musicians have to synchronize their speed on that of the other instruments.  If only one goes faster, they could ruin the whole work on their own.  The violins being the fastest instruments in an orchestra have to be extra careful they follow the director's tempo.  Going faster than the violins would be going faster than the music, and the result would be a disaster.

From then on, the expression has been used as a playful reminder to slow down and synchronize your steps to those around you.  Or else you risk tripping over your own feet.

Examples

Ce projet est complexe; il y a beaucoup de détails à prendre en compte.  Ne cherchons pas à aller plus vite que la musique.
This project is complex; there are a lot of details to consider.  No rush.  It will take as long as it takes.

A force de toujours vouloir aller plus vite que la musique, on n'accomplit rien de bon.
As a result of always wanting to go too fast, we don't accomplish anything good.