New NEW new

[chopintoday]

This is a question I've been pondering for quite a while, but have not yet recieved a satisfactory answer. You see, I have never had direct instructions on how to begin and finish a piece. In the past twelve years I have studied, I fear I might have disrupted the process of the correct way to learn new pieces.

So to put it frankly, how do you learn new pieces?

I know it is different with different pieces, and I accept that much. For example, with ballades (especially Liszt Ballade No.2), I give a name and a story to each subject and develope the story through its variation. That way, the details are not too left out and the overall "ballade" is intact. It really helps me on some level.
But how about Etudes? Fugues? Atonal pieces (Berg Op.1) full of dissonances? Concertos?

Also, it takes really long for me to really "get" the piece. My teacher says I learn fast enough, but I really don't think so. It seems that after I learn the piece, it usually turns against me at the end. I know it's all apart of the process, but it shouldn't be getting worse at least right?

Thanks.