So I want to play a fugue

[benedict]

I would like to play the fugue in F of the first book of the Well Tempered Clavier.

Is there a best way to proceed :

-voices separately ?
-hands separately ?
-hands together directly ?
-study the harmony first ?

Should sightreading mastered before playing by memory ?

Is there a Tao of Bach ?

Please tell me how you do when you begin a piece you really want to play for your own joy and not for performance.

[sharmayelverton]

Learn the parts separately first. Brake down into short sections, Memorize in sections immediately as you learn, notes as well as fingering (fingering is supremely important with Bach). Try and quickly learn the hands separately by heart. You should be able to play the hands separate by heart and faster then the final speed. Then start to put hands together again section by section. Again trying to learn in by heart. If you've learnt the hands separate well and have the technique it shouldn't take too long to put the hands together. Good luck! Fugues are awesome!