Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Question about timelines

I've just started work on Beethoven's Op. 13, 1st movement. After studying the score and formulating a plan, I figure it will take me about 5 months to learn this piece. This will be the most difficult piece I have attempted to date.

For some of the more proficient players here, does this seem like it might be either too short or too long to learn something like this? Just curious how long it might have taken you.

And yes, I know what my teacher thinks.

I haven't studied this sonata, but besides the predictable "what does your teacher think?" response, I will also add that it really all depends on you. And largely up in the air are your 1) current ability, 2) available time, and 3) determination.

In terms of timelines, last year when I was handed three pieces to learn in one semester, I found that setting weekly goals (for the entire semester) definitely helped me out. Most weeks I was ahead of my own goal, and this helped the couple times I came across sections that took me longer to "get" than I had initially allocated.

If you haven't already, really look at the score, and break it up into sections, and set a realistic amount of time for you to learn that section. Of course, if your goal is to have the piece performance ready in 5 months, then I would definitely want to have all the notes under my fingers in no more than 2 to 2.5 months.

Plan out your 5 months, and make sure you think your weekly goals are realistic for you.

Good luck!

-Daniel

My goal is to have the notes under my fingers, at a relatively moderate tempo, in about 5 months. I am hoping to perform this in about 8 months from now. There is no way I could perform this in 5 months...

I broke up the score into various phrases or sections which I felt I could accomplish in a week each, and I'm starting at the end and working backwards to the beginning.

I have the determination, and I think I have the time (my boy is 6 weeks old, so we'll see on that one). Time will tell if I actually have the ability, but I think I do.

But if performance majors are telling me that they would require 5 months to learn something like this, then I know I might be out to lunch and need to re-evaluate. Just looking for some perspective, I guess.

Congratulations on the birth of your child.

Cool piece by the way. That's a big project but that would be very rewarding to have that in your arsenal.

Thanks. He's definately more of a Romantic fan, though. Beethoven might not be his thing (just yet)...




By far my favourite Beethoven sonata! I've been waiting to start this for quite some time.