Copland Piano Variations

[pianist21]

Hello! I am about to begin working on the Copland Piano Variations, and I was wondering if anyone has any advice on learning/practicing this piece. Also, is this piece suitable for small hands? I can reach an octave easily. Thank you so much!

[visitor]

learn and memorize the opening/initial basing theme first and ASAP
don't work them in 'order'
pick the most difficult ones (technically) and those that sound the 'least' like the theme (ie those transformed or varied the most), and work on those first. when you pick several of those, work the ones that come later first and then work backwards back to earlier difficult ones.
then fill in the blanks with the easier ones, whatever order works best for you on those