Learn and memorize all 15 of Bach's 2-part inventions

It is 99.9% finished. Tonight I was able to play through the piece with no stops, bad mistakes, or music to follow, and with most of the dynamics intact. I need about a week and a half of practice to gain consistency.

I’m going to have to come up with some method for reviewing these pieces periodically so that I can maintain the memorization.

Invention 10 is in my ear, but not completely in my head. I need to learn the left hand fully; my muscle memory usually gets it right, but if I try to consciously remember the part, I make mistakes.

As far as the next piece is concerned, I’ve changed my mind a bit. I’m going continue around the circle of 5ths to Invention 3 in D Major.

...but more a thorough intellectual understanding of the material. I think of Bach’s music as the best etude ever – fun to play, but so instructive it hurts, and almost never complete. Meaning that I could practice them forever and still have work to do.

Also, both intellectually challenging and crystal-clear at the same time. And the inventions are so short that memorizing them doesn’t actually take all that long.

Obviously I’d like to improve my playing too – but that will happen anyway as a result of memorization. It’s just too hard to actively read every note AND play it right when you’re playing most Bach.

Current status:
- I have Invention 1 in my ear and mostly in my fingers. Now it’s just a matter of making the psychological leap and putting away the music.

- Invention 10 (G Major) is pretty close to this level too.

- Invention 4 (D minor) I learned and memorized many years ago, so I both know it and don’t. It wouldn’t take me long to relearn it, but I’m a bit bored by the thought. I think I’ll put it off indefinitely.

Next up is Invention 13 (A minor). It seems very familiar to me; either it’s one that’s commonly played or my sister learned it back when I was still living at home. Either way I like it, and it makes sense to learn it soon after Invention 1 since the key signature is the same.