Reading music: Keeping track of the duration of notes

[mathandmusic]

While trying to learn how to play a difficult piece, I realized that I had trouble keeping track of multiple notes and however long they are suppose to be depress.

There can be at most 10 notes (5 for each hand, not counting arpeggiated chords) written on the grand staff for a single beat but each note can have its own rhythm which complicates things. Then for the next beat, you have to consider the duration of each of the notes in the previous beat and then read the notes (which has a possible count of 10) in that beat and then consider their duration. In the third beat, the problem is threefolds, etc.

Is this the difficulty in trying to learn pieces that are beyond my level or is there something that I've missed that enables people to keep track of things easily? If the problem is the former, can I expect this problem to be part of the challenge of reading music?

I thought of a way to get by this problem: playing selected notes on a single clef through the measure, then redoing this process but with the notes that I had omitted in the previous run through, and then do a run through but including all notes. Do professional pianists at one point do this to learn to read? (I'm teaching myself how to sight read).

[outin]

It's just something the composers do to make it more difficult for us 

I sometimes mark with pencil the duration of different voices to be able to read them easier while learning the piece. If sight-reading I usually make quite a few mistakes with them, but I guess those who are really good readers can just get them right the first time.

In general I tend to forget to lift when I am supposed to, and only do when I need the finger again   

[iansinclair]

In general I tend to forget to lift when I am supposed to, and only do when I need the finger again   

Oh good!  I thought I was the only one who does that...

[j_menz]

The good news is you will get better at it with practice. It will always be a challenge, though, in some pieces.

The bad news is that 10 isn't the limit.

My own failing is to use too much pedal and lift notes too early.

[mathandmusic]

The bad news is that 10 isn't the limit.

  That can't be right. Most pianists have 10 fingers.

It's just something the composers do to make it more difficult for us 

I sometimes mark with pencil the duration of different voices to be able to read them easier while learning the piece. If sight-reading I usually make quite a few mistakes with them, but I guess those who are really good readers can just get them right the first time.

In general I tend to forget to lift when I am supposed to, and only do when I need the finger again   

Me too  although I sometimes go crazy about it. Try out that solution I mentioned to see if it helps.

[keypeg]

Part of working on more difficult music (or any music) involves studying and understanding the music before you start working on it.  that might solve some of the difficulties in a preventive way.

[j_menz]

That can't be right. Most pianists have 10 fingers.

Some composers have trouble counting. 

Seriously, they all can hit more than one note at a time, and you have a pedal. Have a look at some Liszt, Busoni, Tausig or Wilde transcriptions of Bach organ works and you'll see that ten fingers is nowhere near enough, even if you could stretch that far.

[lilla]

This is called voicing.  And you are doing exactly the correct thing by outlining the different voices.  We used to use different color highlights to follow the different voices (alto, soprano, etc.).  For example, with sinfonias. You should be able to play any one of the voices, with the correct fingering, and the correct rhythm.  Not to mention dynamics.  Then carefully combine the voices, being certain that you have identified the melody vs the background harmonies.  You should be able to clearly hear the melody singing over the harmonies (usually  - depends on the score).  Yes, there can be more than 10 notes.  The thumb occasionally depresses two notes at a time,and the pedal can be indicated to holdover additional notes.  Good luck!  You have a great start.