So, it turns out, I was accepted to perform in an Honors Recital in one month! Yay Now, I have a quirky question ... so, indeed I know I can improve on the piece that I am performing (Liszt). But I'm not sure if I should chill for like a week or two first (because I was practicing the piece like mad for the audition) and then get back to the piece? Or keep the pedal to the mettle for one full month? How do you keep your pieces "warm" for a month? Thanks!

Mikester :

What I (would) do in a case like yours:

I would, maybe once a day, take certain sections of the piece (depending on how long the entire piece is) and play each section from memory at a painstakingly slow pace, making sure every note was precisely placed, voiced, etc., and that I knew where I was going before I got there - for every note.

I would also play the piece through at "performance" speed/interpretation, and really imagine that it was the performance.

Other than that, assuming that the piece is well in your fingers, I wouldn't do anything more with it. Early in the month, I might even skip a day when I don't play/practice it at all.

By the way, is this the Petrarch 104?

Regards,

Yes It's soooo much better now, though, I still need to work on getting the runs perfect. Thanks for the advice.