Approach on learning new pieces?

[dalirus]

I wanted to ask about a good approach on learning new pieces, especially in regards to reading.  (I'm currently grade 3)  My teacher has commented that I usually try to memorize immediately the pieces that I'm learning even though it should come last.  She says it's great that I have a good memory but my reading is not progressing as much as everything else.   

Herein is my problem.  What happens is I end up memorizing as I read and starting playing.   I'm starting to notice what my teacher was saying about my reading, too.  At times, I'm taking half a minute to read a few measures especially if it's filled with chords.  I asked my friend about it too.  He told me I should read & analyze first; *start playing and get the notes down*;work on articulations, dynamics, etc.; and last is the memorization. 

What does "getting the notes down" mean?  Isn't it the same as memorizing?  Is it better if I can actively read the piece while I practice?  The memorization thing is starting to hurt my brains as I work on harder pieces. 

[dan101]

I had a bit of trouble understanding your concern. However, I can tell you that you should be looking mainly at the music and not your hands, when learning a piece. Looking down too much tends to produce wrong notes.

When you feel that the piece is memorized, try closing the music and testing yourself. If it goes badly, go back to reading the music again and test yourself again a few days later. Good luck.

[guendola]

You should read along while playing, when you have memorised a piece already. It isn't that easy at first but sheet music is great for adding comments, ideas, highlight areas that you have to practise more etc. Make it your practise worksheet. With enough practise, reading becomes mostly automatic and all the extra information on the sheet music doesn't need to be stored in your brain, and the brain can concentrate on performance.

I think one reason for your good memorising ability is the fact that you can't read sheet music well, because you have to memorise quickly. But don't worry, it won't decay as long as you memorise music at a later step. You have to get free from your notes and the sheet music eventually.

[slobone]

I think the confusion here is because there are two kinds of memorization -- what I call finger memory and brain memory. Finger memory will come automatically after a certain amount of practice -- that's what people are calling "getting the notes down". It only means that you know the piece so well that you don't have to stop and wonder what to do next -- your fingers (and hands, arms, shoulders, etc) already know what to do.

You can be at that stage without having brain memorization. That would mean that you can play the piece without looking at the music. They're really two different things. I suppose you can have brain memorization without finger memorization, but I've never tried it.