How long does it take to learn La Campanella(just the notes) for Level 9 RCM

[orbulation]

I want to learn Liszt's La Campanella, and I am just starting RCM Level 9 for piano. I would like to know how long it would take to learn just notes. This is to improve just my technicality, as I want to progress faster. My RCM 8 program repertoire consists of Invention No.13 by Bach, Sonata in A major mvt 1 by Kuhlau, Poetic Tone Picture by Grieg, and Shooting Stars in Summer by Naoko Ikeda. Etudes are The Storm by Burgemuller, and Dance of the Marionettes by Mario Tarenghi. Not part of my program but I still play it is Chopin Waltz in B minor, Op. 69 No. 2.

[ranjit]

I don't think it makes much sense to talk about just learning the notes. I assume you don't mean just theoretically knowing the notes in the piece, but actually playing them. You can pick a stretch piece to improve your technique, but La Campanella isn't likely to do that -- it's more likely to make your technique worse in a few ways at least.

I would suggest looking at pieces at around the RCM 10 level at most if you're looking for pieces to stretch your technique.

That said, the question really becomes what you mean by "learning" the piece. You are unlikely to be able to play it at performance level, or even play the notes at tempo, anytime soon. If you really want to use sections of it as mini exercises of sorts, I suppose you could do that, although it may be counterproductive because you don't know what the actual technique should feel like.

You don't just learn how to play by learning difficult pieces. You could still attempt parts of the piece, I just wouldn't expect to get anywhere near finishing it.

[bwl_13]

It will take a LONG time, much longer than you likely hope. You can run into major tension issues and risk injury. Honestly if you're looking for a stretch etude, look at Chopin Op. 25 No. 2. That piece is manageable with some effort.

La Campanella also has many hyper-specific techniques that you will rarely find in other pieces. It probably won't improve your overall technique and as ranjit said, might make it worse.

I'll also mention that you haven't actually played RCM 9 pieces (or at least you haven't mentioned them). Why not? The Romantic selections especially are awesome. There's so much great music from Chopin alone. The Classical selections at Level 9 are limited, but there's still some great stuff. Why not play some of this new music rather than stretch to an LRCM level concert etude?

[crimson]

I think La Campanella is currently far beyond what you can manage at this point. It may take you several more years, if you progress at a reasonable pace, for you to be able to play the notes at tempo with the proper musicality. If you want to learn an etude I would recommend playing some of Czerny’s Op. 299/740, or perhaps Chopin’s Trois Nouvelles Etudes.

[adariation]

I agree with everyone, and would like to sadly point out that you probably wouldnt be able to get it to performance level, which would cause you to feel bad about your playing. In addition, all of your repertoire is easy to read, where as reading La Campanella would be also hard