when practicing

[BoliverAllmon]

when you start your practice sessions do you work on the pieces you already know and just brush up on them or do you start with the new stuff?

[thalbergmad]

i always consolidate on what i know (or think i know) first and then the new stuff.

if i do it the other way around, i never seem to finish anything coz there is always something new i want to try.

[BoliverAllmon]

that's cool. I ask because I am working on my first recital. I have some of the pieces pretty well learned and others which are pretty new.

[pianonut]

i tend to work the same way - warming up on what i know.  now, in retrospect, i wonder if i'd do myself a favor by reversing it (even every other day).  sometimes family distractions get me after an hour or hour and half.  then i don't get to work the new stuff.  i'll be biting my nails if i don't get it learned soon, because it has to 'marinate' after i learn it.

[wintervind]

I like starting with the piece that needs the most technical work.
First, because I have the focus and concentration that I need to be very detailed
Second, i am usually playing slowly, which is a good warm up for me

[Waldszenen]

I start with scales and technical exercises, then half an hour of stuff I already can play well (or at least somewhat decently), then half an hour of stuff I'm learning. The remaining hour is for whatever tickles my pickle.

[Floristan]

I always start with Bach, even if it's just to warm up.  It centers me...and works every finger!

[Tash]

i start with scales, and supposedly hanon but i've given up on them. then i'll go through my pieces either in order of what i'll be playing in the exam, or if something's in great need of help then it goes first...oh no it doesn't i always do my bach prelude (from the english suite in g minor) first cos i warms my hands up well, then i'll do the piece that needs saving.
if i'm learning a new piece, i always think i should practice it first, but due to liking being in my comfort zone i'll usually start with my already known pieces, though i shouldn't because then the new piece'll get neglected at the end

[whynot]

New stuff first, then my two-minute warmup midway if I feel stiff, then whatever else I feel like checking on.

[steinwayguy]

I know I am going to make myself work a long time on the pieces I already know, simply because I know them and I can play them. So if I work on those pieces first, four hours will have gone by. At this point, I am tired of practicing and definitely don't have the motivation to learn more repertoire so I usually just go and play ping-pong or something irresponsible like that.