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I'm about to start a new degree at an American conservatory this semester to further my piano studies. After an intense season of auditions where I played the same pieces for what seemed like ages, I'd like to push myself more than ever to learn a large amount of repertoire this semester. By "large repertoire," I'm talking about at least a full length recital program (60 mins), and hopefully much more than that! Of course I'm planning to work every day quite a bit - 4-6 hours a day.

I'm very quick to find a new piece to learn (that has never been a problem), but really sticking with it and maintaining it along with others is always a challenge for me. I'm wondering what PianoWorld members do to balance learning many different pieces at the same time. Do you create a weekly practice schedule? Do you plan repertoire over several months? How do you boost your own efficiency as you learn new music?

I had the exact same problem you describe and overcame it by making sure the pieces I study are worth the time and effort I must put in to study them correctly, before I decide to go ahead and study them. Chopin's Ballade 4 can take over a year or more, but some of the Rachmaninoff Preludes may only take a few weeks.

I think the quality of your playing outweighs the quantity in a repertoire.

I wish you all the best at this very exciting time for you. Steve

If you are a fast learner, but poor at retention, you know what you need to work on. You need to analyze what is not working for you.

Do you learn multi-movement pieces all the way through? If you do, can you consider an entire concert as one long piece? Two concerts?

I am not sure how informative knowing how others handle this situation will be for you, other than just being random examples. Each of us is different in our style of learning, in the amount of new repertoire learning we can handle at one time and how we go about learning and retaining that repertoire.

Moreover, don't count on having four to six hours a day to practice until you know what your schedule will be and the demands of that schedule. And although many in conservatories profess to do it, practicing that amount of time can be counter-productive. Many say that 1) three hours of concentrated, efficient practicing per day is more productive than five or six hours and 2) after three (or so) hours, the mind simply cannot fully focus on productive work. One would be better off applying a different mind-set to other problems or challenges that academic life will put before you.

I would say not to make grandiose, sweeping plans about new repertoire until you have tested the waters, until you see what demands are going to be made upon your schedule and upon your mental and physical stamina.

Start slowly and methodically, one step at a time until you see what you can handle that will ensure productive results.

One of your concerns should be your admission that you have difficulty sticking with a new piece; that might be your biggest challenge to overcome in time management and work habits.

Regards,

Excellent advice. We should also assume that the OP's teacher at the conservatory will have a say (if not the final say) in the nature and amount of repertoire the OP tackles during his/her first semester.

Sorry to do this...but...if anybody runs into Two Snowflakes, tell her I said HI and I have also taken on another piano playing job - now that makes four. Think about her all the time and wonder how she's doing.

All the best from Auntie...