Help learning new songs?

[qelery]

My piano teacher had me learn Dance by Kabalevsky. I learned it in 2 days. Then I played Minuet in G Major which took me two weeks to learn. Now she assigned the full version of The Entertainer. It took me 2 weeks (practicing an hour a day) just to get the first 1st page very slowly. Do you have any tips? Will it make it easier to practice if I learn to site read?

[jeremyjchilds]

I hate to be  "that Guy"

But Don't call piano pieces songs...unless you plan on singing them...

Anyways, Of course it will help to learn to sight read. Ask your teacher to teach you to do this, and be prepared to use your mind like a "Man" or "Woman" (I can't really tell by your name)

You would probably get a better response if this was posted on the "Student's corner" section...

[wotgoplunk]

Are you playing these pieces to full perfection in this amount of time?

If not, then this is exactly why you are having trouble with The Entertainer. Being able to play a piece does not make it finished.

Keep in mind that compared to the Minuet in G Major, The Entertainer is a BIG step up. They are also two extremely difficult types of music. Both the Dance and Minuet require timing over expression, Whereas the Joplin requires both, though interpretation is much more important. Maybe the difference in style accounts for the difficulty?

[keyofc]

How many pages is the original Entertainer?