Piano Forum

Well, I will let Bernhard speak on behalf of Bernhard, but after having studied his posts I am sure there will be some evident influences in my reply.  However, I will describe what I feel is now *my* (he he) general plan is for all piano works, and then, specifically counterpoint works.

When planning how to chunk out any piece of music, I generally strive at working whole phrases as a "chunk" that will fit within one 20 minute session, but I may surpass this one phrase within 20 minutes.  Therefore, in planning my work for each session, I will list more phrases beyond that one just in case I need them (and then make a note in a little journal about what I accomplished).   Also, for each phrase, I will likely divide them while learning them but the entire thing will not take me more than 20 minutes.

My goals for accomplishing a section go as follows :

1st session :  7 times, no mistakes (at the earliest repetition possible, I am playing from memory, and there on out).  Once I accomplish this, I leave the section.

2nd session (next day) :  Reminder with music if needed, as many from memory as possible, aiming at 7 perfect repetitions and then leave the section.

Following sessions (following days) : Keep with 7 reps until I know the section from memory from the very start, without needing reminders from the score.

Once I do not need reminders from the score and I have the section memorized, I drop to 3 perfect repetitions from memory and begin linking sections where I can.

I think how big of a section a person chooses to work on in a 20 minute session is completely individual and subjective.  It depends on what the indivdual thinks defines a feeling of "success".  For me, if I cannot accomplish the above goals within a 20 minute session, I feel the piece is too difficult for me and I would be better off working on easier pieces (to build up to the more difficult -- for me -- ones).

For counterpoint, I follow all of the same practice guidelines as I have posted above, however, I have some specific guidelines for counterpoint.   My order of learning goes as follows :

1.  Individual voice(s) -- singing as I play (and learning the middle voice(s) first if more than 2 voice parts)

2.  Individual Hands -- singing one of the voices

3.  Alternating voices -- playing both and singing one and then playing one and singing the other (esp for more than 2 voice parts)

4.  Everything together

I accomplish learning these goals, following the same repetition guidelines that I use for any piece of music (as stated above).

My general consensus is to indeed learn the entire piece in individual voices before I start putting them together.  I have decided this based on issues of time and what I feel is most efficient for me, however, opinions will vary.

Hope this helps,
m1469