Hey Greg! I was wondering how long it usually takes you to learn a piano concerto. I am working on my first Mozart piano concerto (in d minor) and I feel like I am moving at a painfully slow pace. I have been working on it for a week and have only made it through seven pages. I am nineteen and I've been playing for two years. Is this a reasonable pace? or am I fine and just very impatient?
- Elsie

Dear Elsie,

You've only been playing the piano for two years and you're already working on a Mozart concerto?! Chances are that you've bitten off more than you can chew. I wouldn't feel too bad about seven pages in seven days.

Every concerto is different; I couldn't possibly state how long it takes me to learn a concerto. Seriously -- it could take as short as a week and as long as a year, depending on the difficulty of the piece. When I'm in a hurry, sometimes I have to do it very fast, but I prefer taking my time so that I learn the music well and thoroughly.

- Greg (March 6, 2009)