How do I create a learning Plan

[pavb2]

Hi I'm 46 and have been playing piano for about 5 years (about grade 4 or 5) having regular lessons along the way. Unfortunately due to work I can't commit to weekly lessons any longer,so rather than letting my playing lapse

I thought I would try a new approach for about 3 months and want to put together a plan.

What I'm trying to achieve is a different approach to practice by spending a lot of time beforehand setting goals in order to monitor progress,like breaking down a piece and creating a written detailed road map before I attempt it and to use this strategy long term.

I can allow about half an hour per day for practice and may be able to increase this. I am playing for personal pleasure only and my memory is terrible so I'm happy with the score in front of me unless people think I should try and memorise?

I have read brilliant posts by Bernhard and others and am in the middle of Chang's FOPP so I thought I would learn Fur Elise and the first of Bach's inventions. I chose Fur Elise because there seems to be a lot of good information on how to play this piece however I would consider changing depending on people's opinion.

Bernhard has given detailed advice on teaching Bach's 1st invention so I want to develop this across all future pieces.

1. Is this realistic in 3 months or should I attempt less or more pieces.

2.Is there a template I can use for practice or should I just write progress in a notebook

Any help or advice would be gratefully received

[sharmayelverton]

Bach is certainly a great place to put allot of focus so good for your playing and somehow always so satisfying. The inventions are fantastic obviously but it's worth trying some of the fugues as well. fugue No. 2 in C min from the well tempered clavier is fun and I actually tackled it long before I could play Invention No. 8. Sorry this isn't really a direct answer to your question, lol, just expressing my enthusiasm for Bach. I like the idea of making a learning plan, I should do so myself. I would try and select a range of pieces in different styles and requiring different techniques. Of course It's always good if there pieces you really like. I'm sure some others on this forum will be able to offer some more specific advice.

[pavb2]

Thanks for reply have spent a lot of time looking through older threads.

Using Bach's invention no 1 because Bernhard has broken this down I'm going to print out calender (from Microsoft Outlook) and mark in relevant bars and try and do this over a month.

Is this achievable?

Following advice on hereI'm going to select pieces for 3 months, 6 months and 1 year

Problem I have is selecting other pieces and breaking them down into manageable and realistic parts.

Will have a look at fugues but would welcome other opinions.

[feddera]

Learning Bach invention nr 1 is an excellent idea. I've read Bernhards posts and much of his advice is very good, particulary his ideas on purposeful practise. However, some of his practial examples are a bit "inorganic" for my taste.

If I understood you correctly, you intend to spend 3 months learning two pieces: für elise and bach invention #1? Of course that is achievable. Would you mind posting a link to Bernhards advice on learning the invention?

[pavb2]

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2714.msg23310.html#msg23310
https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,5767.0.html

Try these links

Thanks for reply for the first time I have actually spent a lot of time studying the piece away from the piano and feel I have a more systematic approach. I intend to try and use this for all future pieces but as said the difficulty is selecting the right pieces for me,determining hard sections and breaking down in to component parts.

Might also try Gymnopedie as Bernhard has already given direction on this

[scottmcc]

a plan is often a good idea, but so is flexibility.  if you are making great progress, and exceed the plan, why stop?  if you're stuck, don't just keep going because the plan tells you to!

I would encourage you to take bernhard's advice as often useful, but not the end-all-be-all.  some of the things he encourages are also not just unconventional, but probably not a good idea (such as his alternate scale fingerings).

if you want a bit of bach that is not only a lot easier, but also a lot more musical, try the prelude in C major from the 1st book of the Well Tempered Clavier.  I'd be willing to bet you've heard it before, and in my opinion it should be in every pianist's repertoire.

[pavb2]

Prelude in C major sounds good but it's a grade 8 piece here is this be a bit ambitious or should I attempt it over a longer period?

Thanks for all help

[feddera]

I agree with scottmcc with the flexibility-part. Making a learning-plan as detailed as Berhard did with the invention without even having tried the piece is not really necessary. You should still try it though, then you'll find out for yourself how it works for you.

I think invention nr 1 would be much more beneficial for someone who has played for 5 years than the prelude in C. But you could still learn the preulde if you like the piece. The reason it's listed as a grade 8 piece here is because it's grouper together with a 4-voice fugue, which obviously is very hard to play. I think the correct grade for the prelude alone is about 3.

[scottmcc]

from the sound of the original post, he didn't have much (if any) experience with bach.  as such, I suggested a very straightforward work that he can (hopefully) learn very quickly, with very minimal frustration, and that will result in very beautiful music.  that particular prelude is one of the easiest bits of bach--the grade 8 reflects only on the curiously difficult fugue that follows.

the inventions are tricky, and I find them frustrating, especially as the end result isn't even all that musically satisfying, at least to my ear.  but as a means to an end, namely the ability to play a two-voice mini-fugue, then they are clearly valuable, but again, I find them to be bitter medicine.

to all:  if someone suggests a bit of music, perhaps you should print it out and try it before dismissing it?  I suggested a work that takes 2 minutes or less to perform; surely that can't be too long?

[pavb2]

Thanks for all replies it has been a great help I think I will start on the Bach inventions but not to the degree of learning them all intensely.

The C major prelude is a beautiful piece so based on advice will try this. It is frustrating to hear a piece & then look on here & find it is beyond me eg grade 7+, so being told the prelude is about grade 3 appeals to me.

I will probably choose another piece from the many I now have and start this in a few weeks time.

I will also be flexible in my plan but it is good to get the in depth detail of studying a piece and working back from here.

Thanks everyone it has given me a lot more clarity and momentum to go forward