jwllorens:
If there is an approach that I am not considering and don't know about, I certainly want to learn it.
Because you have jumped in at the deep end I don't actually know what you are doing in order to suggest a different approach.
If this was my project (and with own level of experience) I would start getting one motor to move slowly. Then I would get that motor to move at the speed and sequence that I require. With that knowledge I would then sit back and consider how I would extend my knowledge to additional motors..
...R