Ten things to do when learning a new piece of music

These ten activities will simplify the process of learning a new piece of music. 
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1. Listen to a professional recording while following the score. It is much simpler to play a score when you know what it is supposed to sound like.   “How do I get the sound in my head out of these black dots” is much easier than, “I wonder what this sounds like?” Notice the deviations from the score that the professionals present. Mark in any nuances with dynamics and phrasing you might hear. The music is not fully represented by the notation.
2. Observe the fingering suggestions in your score. I would only change the fingering in the case of obvious error or small hands.
3. Practice slowly at first.
4. If the rhythms are difficult. Clap and count aloud those passages.
5. Explore the score further by marking the form and cadences. Notice how the professionals play the cadences. You will want to do the same. If this step is new to you call me, I can help.
6. Practice with dynamics from the first reading. That way you avoid having to relearn the piece later. In my experience as a piano examiner, under stress candidates will abandon the dynamic plan and resort to their pre-dynamic performance. I know this because I often had the teachers' score in front of me. Dynamics in the scores were brightly underlined, highlighted, and punctuated coast to coast. The more frantic and emphatic the marking was, the less chance the candidate would execute them.
7. Practice in small chunks. That is phrase by phrase, or if the passage is particularly difficult, measure by measure. Consider:
   1. Fingering
   2. The required movement to realize your artistic impression: slur gestures, arm weight, rotation, and so on.
   3. Dynamics
   4. Balance
   5. Flow
8. Record yourself. Many students will find this uncomfortable. I say fight the resistance. The feedback one gets from hearing immediately of your progress or lack thereof will save you years of wasted effort. 
9. Take breaks. My attention span is short, yours is likely to be short too. So, prepare several activities when practicing.
   1. Practice the scales and chords required for your piece.
   2. Listen some more to the recordings.
   3. Jump back in.

If I can help, call me.
 
David
Revised September 2022

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