memorization

[pianoannie]

I can sightread pretty well, and have numerous pieces I love to play, but I am really really bad at memorizing.  Oh, I know all of the tricks, how to analyze the patterns, I have a good ear for chord changes and melodic intervals, I know theory inside and out.  In fact, I am very effective at teaching my students to memorize via various tips.  I have students who have memorized complete mid to late intermediate pieces in a week or two.  But as far as my own brain being able to do it, there's just some mental block or something.  Can anyone relate to this?  What is the best thing you've done to improve your ability to memorize?  BTW, I don't mean that I have never ever memorized a piece; through the years there have been some, but it's slow and painful!  

[APianist]

Hi, I'm new (first post!) but I do have some useful information about memory.

I used to have a problem memorizing things as well. I studied a second language and in doing so I wanted to memorize a lot of vocabulary.

Anyways I started out at 25 words a day. This was really hard! The next day I would quiz myself on the previous days words. What I learned was the more you do it, the easier it gets. Its not a matter of being able to permanately remember the first time you memorize, but that as you 'test' or 'recall' them later it gets easier and easier. So even if you forget it will always come back easier than the first time you memorized something. You mind is a muscle, the more you use it for memorization the better it gets. Its like doing body building, your body gets stronger and you can do more and more easily.

It is however an intense mental workout. You should feel exhausted after memorizing something. It means that your memory is going to improve. You are infact expanding your minds capability to memorize faster.

After about 6 months of memorization I found I could memorize over 300 items in one day. And retain about 90% of that within the next few days.

Its the maintanence that is killer. You see its pretty hard to keep all that vocab unless you go out and use it. (Reading, speaking, etc).

But in the case of Piano fortunately it is soo much better. Everything you memorize directly relates to music which gives you feeling, sound, and visual all at the same time. To reinforce the memory, you only need to play.

You have to learn to trust your mind and believe that you can memorize as well. That can be a big block. If you set limitations on yourself that don't exist you will not succeed. You must relax and believe you can memorize.

You see its really a game. Your mind knows what you want to memorize and you feed your brain the information, but it must cooperate for it to be memorized. Because when you try to recall the information there is no control, your brain either gives it to you or it doesn't. If you believe that you cannot memorize you are creating your own block. Which can be more effective than anything physical.

You've probably subconsiously already memorized a lot of what you enjoy playing. Can you sing it away from the keyboard or hear it in your mind? Try playing with your eyes closed. Or with no sheet music and just leave it up to your mind to decide whats next. Sometimes its just taking a leap of faith. Rely more on your instincts, correct them if they are wrong.

Just some thoughts.

PS: Sorry about any spelling mistakes.

[jonathandodd]

Ggggg...300 words a day? Wow. Anyway, pianoannie, if you have a piece you know quite well but haven't memorised, try covering up the left hand, and playing both hands from only the right hand part. From my own experience, you may be surprised to find that in fact you have memorised the left hand part subconsiouly. Now reverse that, cover up the right hand and do the same thing. You should find that the same thing occurs. In other words, you have actually memorised the piece, it's just relating it to playing that's the problem. (sorry, if this doesn't work for you!) If it does though, you may well need to sit down and memorise a few key 'starting points' just to get your memory jogged, then the rest of the phrases should follow automatically. For example, memorise the first of every 8 bars in problem areas. Otherwise, I definately agree with APianist. The more you memorise, the better you become at memorising.

Jon

[paulpiano]

On the other hand, my teacher had to learn Davidsbundertanze completely memorized in a week when she studied in the USSR.

Is the command of the piece you're playing best done threw memorization?

[lostinidlewonder]

Some of my students are very good sight readers and find memorization hard.  Of course developing pattern recognition is a forever improving venture, but I found acting against your sight reading helps. I have put Post-it notes all over students sheet music so they cannot see particular part I want them to memorise.  We do not necessarily cover entire bars but rather small portions at a time. When you are sight reading you realise you do not have to read every single dot, so cover what you know you do not need to read and then take note of which notes you really need to read, then slowly start covering them.

Likewise I have photocopied sheet music and with a black white board marker coloured out notes I do not want students to read. And if they really must check the notes they have to open their original books and check it. I like this method because its faster for me to cover the notes and penalizes the student if they need to read, that is having to open the book and check. This will deter sight readers from reading all the time and start trying to guess the right note before reading it.

[paulpiano]

SLOW PRACTICE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WHY?
You are building memory circuits in your mind, ears, and hands that must work reliably under pressure from nerves, unusual circumstances, or unmanageable pianos.

[amelialw]

I never find memorization and issue but my sight-reading is'nt very good and needs to be improved so, you can have it all.

slow practise does help though, and if you have problem memorizing long pieces practise a piece slowly, break it up into parts and that should help.