How to perfect a piece to the best of ability?

[pianist7]

same as title

[stevebob]

First, a fundamental requirement is the ability to listen to yourself—really listen.  If you don't have that, cultivate it.  Get a recording device like the Zoom H4, if necessary.

Next, have a distinct and detailed aural image of what you want the piece to sound like and what you want to say with it.

Finally, make that aural image happen.  Close the gap between how you play the piece and your ideal realization of it.

[liordavid]

according to cpe bach, sing it and impersonate it on piano

[point of grace]

what's Zoom H4?

[stevebob]

The Zoom H4 is a portable, relatively affordable and reasonably user-friendly digital device that makes decent quality audio recordings.  Those features have earned it a measure of popularity among amateurs.

It's been around for a few years now; a couple of updated models have been introduced by the manufacturer.  If you google the term, you're sure to find much information and many reviews of the Zoom products.

[peterjmathis]

Yeah, recording yourself == paramount. I can't even really remember the time when I wasn't able to record myself anymore. It's like trying to remember how I ever wrote anything pre-computer...