To know the substantials and side issues of the piece you are playing.

Important, don't you agree? But too often practicing/rehearsing will not transcend reproducing.

Getting an overview 

  • Are there clear points of change and (as a result of that) episodes?
  • If so: how many and where do they start and end approximately? We call these points of segmentation and sections. Annotate them in your score.
  • Points of segmentation have grades. To begin with discern between three categories: big (V), medium (v) and Small ( | ).
  • Determine with which musical means segmentation is achieved (melody/harmony, metre/rythm, dynamics, timbre, articulation).
  • Are there few points of segmentation and as a result of that no clear episodes? In that case we are possibly dealing with gradual musical processes.
  • Can we perceive change? If so, with what musical means and to what extent?
  • Are certain patterns to be recognized in changes? If so, how and with what musical means?
  • If we are dealing with gradual change, do those changes have a certain goal or purpose?
  • Are things added, omitted, or stays the used material (globally) the same? 
  • What can you say about the amount of tension?
  • If tension is increasing or decreasing how is this effect achieved (musical means)?
  • Does the music move towards or away from a certain point?
  • Is there repetition?
  • If so, where and with what musical means?
  • IIs there immediate repetition or repetition at a distance
  • What can you say about time intervals between repetitions?
  • Are there any contrasts?
  • If so, where approximately, how big and with what musical means?Zo ja: waar ongeveer, hoe groot en met welke middelen?
  • Is there variation?
  • If so: how and with what musical means? 
  • What can you say about the texture (relation between parts/voices: polyphonic, homophonic, heterophonic, ...)?

Positioning the composition within the total output of the composer, his contemporaries and the musical climate/context.