final recital next summer (program)

[thorn]

I was supposed to learn this over the holidays though I've been a bit bad at focusing on just a few pieces. So now I'm in a bit of a bad place with term starting in a couple of weeks and I was supposed to have the pieces learned, nowhere near perfect just able to play through them comfortably. So my first question is how would people suggest I go about reaching this level over a short period of time? I am able to practise for a riduculously long time per day but don't see the point in just sitting there messing with them all of the time so any tips?

Secondly, my teacher was really vague with what she asked for: a Classical sonata= fine, a modern piece= fine then she said something "beautiful", which is really vague and I've been having trouble deciding and sticking to this third requirement.

So far, my program is this:

Beethoven: Sonata op 57
Ligeti: Automne a Varsovie

For the 'beautiful' piece, I chose Chopin Ballade 4, but I recently realised that although I would easily be able to pull it off by next May, I probably won't get that high mark for it as it's a really difficult piece to please anyone with. So I've been looking at the Szymanowsky Metopes instead.

So, which Metope do people think would be the best to put in there? Or would it be wiser to stick with the Ballade or at least play it to my teacher and see if she agrees with my views on it or thinks it will be alright?

With the Metopes, I'm thinking Nausicaa would be the best contrast but it is in my view the most difficult of the three. Isle of the Sirens definitely fits "beautiful", but it's pretty similar to Ondine which I played last year. Calypso is the same kind of mood as the Beethoven and the Ligeti so I don't think it would be THAT much of a contrast.

Help?

[prongated]

I was supposed to learn this over the holidays though I've been a bit bad at focusing on just a few pieces. So now I'm in a bit of a bad place with term starting in a couple of weeks and I was supposed to have the pieces learned, nowhere near perfect just able to play through them comfortably. So my first question is how would people suggest I go about reaching this level over a short period of time? I am able to practise for a riduculously long time per day but don't see the point in just sitting there messing with them all of the time so any tips?

I don't know the Szymanowski or the Ligeti, so...

ATM I'm finding myself practising not more than 3 hours a day. And I really enjoy it. At the risk of sounding [insert corny adjective here], I think it's true; Music needs time to settle down. It needs time to be thought out, to be felt. So I enjoy my time away from the keyboard and humming the tune to whatever it is I need to play. Or think about a tempo that works for the entire piece. Or work out rhythm, voicing, and character in my head. Figure out how a whole phrase/section should flow. It helps cement your conception of the piece.