When to move onto the next etude?

[Aaiieeee]

So I've been working through etudes which are really working for me but I'm not clear when I should consider one as 'done' and move on?
My method has been to play each one through twice with reasonable consistency so long as I feel that there was nothing I couldn't handle. I know for a fact that if I play each one too much I'll just end up learning it, hence my question.
Is 'good enough' acceptable?

W

 

[proverbs10_4]

As far as etudes go, eventually you're going to memorize it if you play it enough. The goal is to learn the skill of reading anything at random fluently without mistakes, and that comes from playing as many different etudes as often as possible.

My answer is to move on as soon as you got it down. Get as many different pieces of music to read as possible in order to build the skill. You don't learn how to read by memorizing paragraphs.

 

[BassChuck]

I agree. Two times through and move on.
That said, don't sweat the tempo as long as you can keep it steady. Also, if there is a phrase that is difficult to play the second time, or you find that you need to edit your position or fingering to play it in tempo, take a few minutes to straighten out that hassle and have a go at it a 3rd time.
Most etude books are progressive, in that each etude presents a playing issue that is a little more difficult than the previous etude. Mark your place, and when you return to the book the next day or week, start a few etudes on the easier side to review and then keep going.

 

[dalkowski]

One common-sense adage I love but have never been able to live up to:
Don't practice until you get it right; practice until you don't get it wrong.

Good luck! I need to get into etudes; I think practicing etudes would give me some structure. What book are you using?

 

[BrotherMister]

That is the eternal question of practice. When do I move on?

As a general rule I think if you can do it consistently and fully understand what you are playing then it's there. A good way to test that knowledge is to play it in different keys. Taking it through each key really ingrains it as well as forces you to actually think about whats going on and not simply run the motions.

 

[Spin Doctor]

So I've been working through etudes which are really working for me but I'm not clear when I should consider one as 'done' and move on?
My method has been to play each one through twice with reasonable consistency so long as I feel that there was nothing I couldn't handle. I know for a fact that if I play each one too much I'll just end up learning it, hence my question.
Is 'good enough' acceptable?

W

Well the whole concept of playing etudes is to learn it since in general, the object of an etude is to address some particular technique deficiency. If you think you've addressed whatever the etude is teaching you, then you can move on. If you're just sight-reading, then once or twice is fine.

 

[James Collins]

Wouldn't it depend on the etude? Some etudes are as complex as a performance piece. I more often get to where I have the etude memorized, and focus on the technique it is supposed to teach after that. At some point, I add another etude or musical piece.

But not every etude is equal. There are etudes that are 4 measures and then there are etudes that are 40 measures. Some etudes can take months if not years to perfect the technique. Others can take 5 minutes.

 

[geesharp]

I move to the next etude when I no longer make mistake. I practice using Jeff Berlin's materials, it's not sight reading course, so I don't worry at all if in the process of rereading and repeating the etude, I memorize it.