How many unique sections are there?

I always ask my students this question before they play any piece of music. I find that when I ask myself this question about a new piece of music I can learn it a little more quickly.

Knowing when a section is a repetition of previous musical material or when a new section is coming up can be very useful when sight reading or learning a piece of music.

You’re looking at the form of the music. How many sections are there and how many of those sections are repetitions of other sections. Maybe the form of the piece is ABABCAA. In that form you’re playing the A section four times, the B section twice, and the C section only once.

If you’re sight reading and you notice this, you’ll likely play it a little more smoothly because you’ll know that the A section is a repetition and it will be more familiar. The B section is also a repetition and hopefully will be more familiar when you play it the second time.

That last A section will likely sound the best because you’ll be reading through that material for the fourth time, basically like you’ve practiced reading through it three times already.

ISJ