Is half learning pieces detrimental to technique?

[bob3.1415926]

In an effort to sort out my technique, I decided to try and cover Chopin Op.10 (complete) in a year. I'm doing this by running 2 etudes at a time for 2 months, then dropping them and moving on.
Currently I am in month 5, so have played with, and dropped etudes 1 & 12, then 2 & 11, and am currently learning 3 & 10. (I thought stepping inwards had some aesthetic appeal.)
Obviously in only two months they haven't been anywhere near concert standard. They have been mostly close to or at full speed (with the exception of No.2 which was a long way off) but with quite a lot of errors when played that fast. I worry that not spending the time polishing them to a great standard could be damaging my ability to do exactly that (which is kind one of my weaknesses).
That said, it does seem to be doing wonders for my playing abilities. Everything seems to be rapidly getting easier.
So it is obviously doing some good, but I worry there could be negative repercussions. Any thoughts?

[dan101]

If you're seeing results in terms of increased finger dexterity, etc... then you're on the right track. You are not damaging your pianistic abilities in any way.

However, I would strongly suggest properly learning your favorite etude(s). Sticking with something until it's learned from memory teaches you patience and enhances your mental stamina and determination. This is all part of the package of becoming a successful  musician.

Good luck.

[slobone]

I don't think it's necessarily essential for an amateur to play pieces up to concert speed. I DO think it's necessary to learn to play them without mistakes!

If you're only making an occasional mistake, it's not worth obsessing about -- even professionals do that. But if your performance is littered with wrong notes, definitely stop and fix them before you go on to a new piece.

On a deeper level, I see you and I have different goals for our practicing time. I'm less interested in teaching my fingers new tricks than I am in making music, and that only really starts after the notes have been learned.

If you treat the Chopin Etudes just as finger exercises whose musical qualities are unimportant, I can only wonder -- what pieces will you take more seriously? What exactly are you preparing yourself for?