learning difficult repertories. How do I know I am practising right?

[dora96]

I just wonder when I learn difficult piece like Chopin, Bach or Rachmaninoff.  How do I know that I am doing it right or practising in the right track. When I was learning Chopin Nocturne Op9 No1, my teacher will ask me that I should start working on it. I practice separate hand, note for note, until I have known all the notes, tempo etc.... But my teacher will suggest to me that I should listen different recordings or watch some pianists performance at youtube. I find that that piece of music I just learned it all myself, except the interpretation and dynamic that taught by teacher. I still find that struggle to understand and express it until I have memorized it and really study it very thoroughly without playing one single wrong note.

That particular Chopin nocturne is not that complicated. However, if I am attempted to learn something very difficult like Rachmaninoff, Bach or other repertoires. There are so complicated, so many chords, so many notes. and different tempo in different measures. How do you tackle it? I just wonder the other day I watched Freddy kumpf playing Rachmaninoff concerto 3. How on earth these pianists learn that and memorize. How many years have to practice it ? Just look at the scores which scare you to death alone to learn and memorize them.

[go12_3]

Practice slowly and do sections at a time until you feel more comfortable with what you are learning---fingering, etc.  when you look at the whole piece, it overwhelms you.  So take a little at a time.  Practice with precision.  Work on tempo on one practice session, then the fingering, or whatever you need to work on.  The memorizing will come along, but in sections.  Once the music comes, the the practicing will be easier.   I take a couple of pages at a time when learning a difficult piece.  Two pages a day.  The complication of the piece will make more sense in each practice session.  Enjoy the journey in learning new pieces.  You will be progress just fine.