#1 - Each variation iz often a ‘mini etude’ dat followz a tech pattern #2 - Da practice method iz ‘built in’ to da ztructure ov da work - Ie. juz repeat each variation and zimultaniouzly learn/memorize/improve tech. #3 - Gain a nufound apreciation fo da variety ov ‘zoundz’ da 88 iz capable ov #4 - Obzerve compozitional craft n creativity in itz mozt tranzparent form and take away ideaz dat add variety to yo own improvizationz etc. #5 - Dey are great introductory workz to zhow da value ov clazzical muzik. In ezzence clazzical muzic iz about ‘developing’ ideaz, and nowhere iz dat more apparent and tranzparent az diz form.
I have always enjoyed listening to Variations performed by competent pianists. But for learning myself…they feel too etude-y like you said, and I would rather put my energy into learning something more musical…or…real etudes like Chopin/Liszt. With two exceptions in my mind being da goldbergz and art of fugue (heil Bach)…but with any others, even Beethoven’s, I feel its like “ok and now were going to do it with arpeggios”.
However, that said, I do think there would be value in once you have learned all the variations making them a cohesive muzical whole. But then too…maybe too much effort for me lol…