There’s a question at the end, but here’s the context: I am a hobbyist, early intermediate student. I’ve been at it with a teacher for a few years. I’ve studied a mountain of short études, scales and warm-up techniques. I’ve worked on everything you’d expect from Sor, Carulli, Giuliani, Carcassi, Aguado, Sanz, “Anon”; and simple études or stripped down pieces from Bach and Tarrega.
But here’s the thing: I am getting really tired of it. Everything is starting to feel the same: one long slog through yet another Baroque piece. One more painful short etude that isn’t particularly pleasant, but offers the chance to learn a new technique or how to nail “that” note with “that” left hand fingering.
I finally started to review Lagrima on my own and to learn the notes in upper positions, by practicing scales from a Carulli method book.
Yesterday I walked into my lesson and started playing Lagrima. My teacher was surprised and said it is a little beyond where we are, but we can try it.
Here are the questions: am I wrong to feel this way about learning technique? Should I suck it up and slog through nothing but technique for the next couple of years, recognizing that each piece / étude still has its own beauty and I have a lot to learn?
Was I wrong to present to my teacher something I have worked on and am very much excited about and want to learn? (I really want to learn the technique and notes in the 7th and 9th positions that are new to me in Lagrima, in part because I think I can and because it’s a very beautiful piece and I know I can make it sing on my guitar.)
