How to tell the difference between a difficult passage and a lack of technical skill?
I'm working through a piano study (Burgmuller Op. 109, "La Separation" if it matters). I'm using this study to gain a better handle on large jumps in the LH and rapid chord changes. I think it's done quite well, but there are a few short passages, about 2 bars, where I often make mistakes when trying to play at speed. I can play through the passages if I'm going slower, and I know that it's just a matter of time before I get them down.
And therein lies the issue: I like the piece, but it's not one of my favorites. I really chose it for the technical skills it develops. I feel as though the piece has served its purpose, and that I would probably get more out of moving on to another piece that has a similar focus. However, I'm not sure if I can distinguish between: "These bars are just difficult" compared to "I lack the technical skills to play them properly". If it's a technical problem, then I should stick with this piece until I master the technical skill, yes? On the other hand, if it's just a difficult passage, then presumably getting it perfect won't really move me any closer to my goals.
If my goal is to be able to learn any piece faster, should I move on to another study to more fully challenge myself, or should I stick with this one until it's perfect? Or, in other words: if I stick with this piece, will I essentially just be getting better at playing it, without much benefit to my general skill set?
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Difficult and lack of technical skill are the same thing. Practice gives one better technical skill (maybe with some lessons to learn what and how to practice.) Last month's difficult passage becomes a pattern that can be read at sight next month.
If you can play "all the piece except for a short passages", then don't waste time playing the whole piece - just work on those passages!
Make up your own technical exercises based on just those passages - e.g. repeat them in different keys, or shifted up/down an octave, or whatever.
Saying "these bars are just difficult" is just a cop-out for "I don't have the skill to play them yet". And the cop-out won't improve your playing - but the tough question you have to face up to is, "Do I really want to improve, or do I just want a nice excuse for not being good enough to play this very well?" Only you can give an honest answer to that!
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