Sometimes, I find myself wondering how I found the mental endurance to absorb all these notes into my head. I'm pondering new pieces I could begin, but as I look sometimes it just looks like a jumble of notes that I could never tackle, but when I focus I begin to see the note names and how I would play them on the keyboard. THIS is how I learned it all, painstakingly and with a steady, ultimate desire to study this fantastic instrument. But, sometimes it just seems like I'm getting nowhere on it. For instance, I'm looking at a Bach partita that I would like to begin studying, the C minor. I, however, need to finish the C minor prelude and fugue, and this partita is 22 pages long. Hardly a first choice for an amateur, but it's a piece that's been rolling around in my head for awhile and I can't get it out.

Basically, I'm asking how you endure the grind of learning new pieces. The grind must be diluted with frequent breaks to be tolerable, I think, and it truly takes a ton of time and energy that apparently no one understands except other musicians. But I guess we don't do it for others. We do it for the good of the art and for ourselves... the others can follow their paths through a mundane, average existence about paychecks, insurance, and sitting on the couch.

I despise this reality.

EDIT: Meant to post in pianist's forum, but I guess this one would work too.

I always have trouble "warming up" to a new piece, no matter how much I want to learn it. I try to take small, manageable steps. It can be overwhelming to face a big piece and not know where to start.

I will usually start by just looking over the score and studying the structure. When it's really time to "dig in," I go through and figure out the fingering for the entire piece. (I find this to be a necessary step for getting to know the piece, though I'll often change the fingering here and there as I'm learning it and new fingerings make more sense.)

Then I separate the piece into manageable chunks (usually along thematic lines). Then I start actually practicing--beginning with the most difficult "chunk."

I also think a lot about the theory as I'm learning each chunk. Understanding the underlying structure, combined with drilling, usually helps me to memorize each chunk the first time around.

Don't stress yourself over what's to come. Enjoy the pieces you're working on now. If the partita is too overwhelming, consider working on something more manageable next.

I think I know how you feel, though. I'm working on several "big" pieces right now and am wondering if I'll ever finish them. Once they're done, I'm looking forward to learning something a little shorter and simpler.

I'm guessing that you are far more advanced than I but I certainly related to your post. Just yesterday I was wondering how to fit it all in. I practice an average of three hours a day and it doesn't come close to covering all I want to study and practice. I could seriously do this full-time if it wasn't for that pesky work thing.

For me, the grind of beginning new pieces what I enjoy most. I get sucked into analyzing, figuring out the fingering and timing measure by measure. The polishing of them seems to take forever and I find myself restless for a new piece before I should really leave one I've "learned".

it's always easier if the piece you're about to learn is around or just little above your current level. otherwise, expect to go through much longer hours of learning and practicing.

i remember the first time i tried Moonlight 1st movement (about 1 year ago), i felt so hard to read through it. i did read through it 1 or 2 times, but it was struggling for me. but when i started learning and reading it again recently, everything becomes relatively easy to manage, and i virtually have no trouble to read through the whole thing except a few passages needing some good fingerings.

every new piece you're going to learn would present some chanllenge, but how much of challenge is the key. too much of it would make yourself feel like a failure or force you to give it up sometimes. but without it, you'd never advance your skills. it's all about balance and how much you could take technically.

I agree with and have experienced everything that has been said previously.
Mike White