Counterpoint In Composition 1St Chapter - Move On Or Master?

Hi, it's the first time I'm posting here, so I hope I'm doing this in the right place.

I've taken it onto myself to learn counterpoint from a book that seems thorough enough, Counterpoint in Composition by Salzer and Schachter, but I've been stuck on the first chapter for some time and can't seem to make a decision about how to move on.

My question is this: should I master the first species, two voice exercises to make them even, and sounding complete, or be satisfied for now with understanding the rules and move on. I think my difficulty also is in that the authors advise against "mechanical" writing, but I don't get how 8 notes against 8 notes can be anything but mechanical. I'm thinking if I go on then I might understand and hear the whole process better and will be able to write the beginner exercises in a way that's as good as the examples.

I wish to go to school for composition soon, but right now I'm limited to studying by myself with the help of only the internet, so there's no point for you to tell me to get a teacher.

Thanks!

Years ago when I studied species counterpoint I fell in the same trap you're about to enter: overly self-confident, I thought that bearing the rules in mind would be perfectly enough. However, when I tried apply my 'skills' in actual compositions, all of my attempts quickly fell apart as my purely theoretical knowledge obtained from textbooks had not been systematized because of the lack of adequate practice. One cannot learn to drive a car solely by reading the manual.

You should study all the counterpoint species, step by step, by the means of practice. I know it can be extremely boring sometimes, but sooner or later it will yield result - given, of course, that you have some definite aims with the art of counterpoint, other than the 'mandatory' stylistic exercises...

Thanks Fermata. I think it's not so much boredom that stalls me, but a lack of conviction that I'm not about to spend time pointlessly practicing something I'm not yet supposed to understand. The fact that you have a successful experience with one way helps me plan that way rather than the other. I think, too, the music practice part is not as obvious behind the part that resembles math, to a beginner.

And I completely understand what you mean about music choices having to be genuine, it just doesn't happen the other way!