Student of level 2 needs advice

[i_am_joey_jo]

Hi,

I'm level 2 but I can play some level 4 pieces.  The trouble I am having is that it takes me a week or more of 2 hours practice a day to learn some songs such as right now I am sudying BWV anh. 132 and it's taking me a long time.  I am not looking at my hands and playing by feel and looking at the music only.  I seem to be doing well after a week or so but I've almost totally forgotten the few songs I learned before this now.

My question is, am I normal?  And what is with these people who can pick up the piece and play it almost perfectly the first time around?  I realize they are at a higher level but for me it takes a really long time.  Am I normal for someone who has studied about a year?

Will I eventually be able to play just by looking at the music itself?  Or am I hopeless and stick to the slide whistle and kazoo instead?

[alysosha]

Takes me about 4 months to learn a grade 7/8 piece on 2 hours a day. I consider myself normal.

Reading the piece straight off is called "sight-reading" and it's a totally separate skill to learning a piece. I consider myself to be around a grade 8 player but i couldn't make it through most grade 2 pieces sightreading.