holy moly getting a backup sonata

[Tash]

my teacher has just told me pretty much that she doesn't think i'm handling my lovely beethoven op.27 no.1 sonata very well and would like me to learn a new one for my exam in 3 months. so i'm like holy moly let's just shoot me- i'm really sad that i've put myself in this position and am giving myself these 3 weeks of hols to work my butt off in fixing this sonata so i won't have to change cos i love it so much!
but just to make her happy i'll start another one, for backup. she's suggested haydn's B minor HobXVI/32 or Ab Hob XVI/46, but i was semi-learning beethoven's op.14 no.1 last year, i know it's quite a bit easier than op.27, and i like it so i might go with that. but if you think that's a dumb idea then please tell me! like just give me a hint as to which one of these would be a better backup that i will be able to perfect in 3 months and hopefully memorise so i don't fail this bloody exam.
ha i'm in such a good mood right now...

[TheHammer]

Well, these are bad news....

Anyway, better now starting another sonata then realizing you won't make it two weeks before the audition. Hopefully you will make it to perfect the op.27/1, though. Good luck on this. (Btw, what are your problems with that? Perhaps we could help a bit? You posted something about the octaves in the fourth movement, how are they going?)

Nevertheless...
First off, the Beethoven sonata is a very cool piece and it is WAY easier than the one you are playing. The first movement is completely straight-forward, there are some faster scales, and these funny turns in the second theme. Well, okay, the whole sonata has Rh octaves nearly throughout, but not nearly as akward as in the Quasi una Fantasia. Second movement very easy. Both are easy to memorize. Problems may occur with the Rondo. Firstly you have to ensure you get those triplets in the LH down. Then there are many scale passages and some mean arpeggio patterns - can be tough. But before you decide to pick it, definatly look at the end of the Rondo (where the melody is shifted a 8th note "behind" the LH triplets: quite complicated). Have a read through it. Three months are a lot of time, it is really a rather strict sonata, so you can memorize it easily. There are not many techniques to learn (you probably already have them). And as you have "semi-learned" it already, and because it is Beethoven, I would say take it.

However, I also sight-read through the Haydn sonatas. They are not much easier, or shorter, for that matter. The B-Minor I knew before, the first movement is kind of cool, but it would be nothing for me (compared to the Beethoven). The Ab is way longer (about 20 minutes, I guess, at least) and it seemed even more difficult.

So, overall, I would say you should instantly begin on several technical issues of the third and possibly the first movement of the op.14/1 and make a harmonic and structural analysis of the piece. This will faciliate learning and memorizing it, and will let you enough time to work on the op.27/1. You should then come up with a conclusion on your progress as fast as possible, so you can focus on one sonata.

The worst thing you can do now is becoming frustrated or to panic. Relax. Sometimes it helps to just STOP practicing on a piece for a day. Take a break and see if it helps. And tell us about your progress. 
Again good luck on this.

[Tash]

ok i'm calmer now thanks:)
i personally would prefer the op14/1, cos i did learn the last movement to an almost memorised stage ages ago so that's pretty much fine, and read through the other movements yesterday which are ok too. Oh and i accidently wrote down one of the haydn sonatas wrong- it's the F major HobXVI/23 not the Ab, dunno what i was thinking there...
problems with the op27/1: 1st movement- just getting the allegro bit up to speed with total accuracy is a problem, but i just need to practice it in a whole lot more, my only other issue with the rest of it is making it 'mean more', but that's not too hard
2nd movement: d*mn syncopation! but once again it's just practicing it in and not going totally lopsided with it.
3rd movement's totally fine. 4th movement i just  need to revolutionise the way i practice is and focus more on problem spots and working on the technical side of it.
i did a good practice yesterday. i know what i need to fix, it's just a matter of fixing it now. so hopefully i'll continue to do good practices for the next 3 weeks and blow my teacher away when we have a mini-performance!
but thanks for that, i'm feeling better:)