I've been noticing lately that I don't feel like I'm getting much out of my practice. I'm currently 16, and have been playing for just over three years now. In June, I'm going to be playing five pieces in front of a judge: Prelude #1 in C maj. from WTC1, Beethoven op. 49 #2 first movement, fur elise, Chopin's waltz in a minor (posthumous), and Gershwin's Prelude #1 in B-flat major. My teacher points out my mistakes, but overall says she really enjoys my playing; that I have a natural "feel" for the music. However, I don't think so really; I often lose my tempo, miss keys, or don't play them hard enough to make a sound, my phrasing is always off, and I don't feel my playing is very smooth. I'm thinking about perhaps going back to my RCM books, which we seem to have stopped working out of, there are actually a few pieces I think are nice, and trying to work on my technique. I just don't find practice enjoyable right now, and so I never really feel like trying.
So I was wondering, does anyone have any tips or advice to help me get more out of practicing or to help me work on my technique?