Tips for memorizing a piece of music?

[karelm]

Hello,

I am having trouble memorizing a Bach invention with correct fingerings, note durations, etc.  I haven't yet made the leap to knowing how to memorize something abstract.  What I do is pretty much read the music note by note and that makes me very slow and not very musical. 

Are there any suggestions on how to approach memorizing?  Is it just through repitition or are there more efficient ways to do this?  My teacher practically memorized several bars with fingerings and ornaments in about 5 minutes and I spent an hour on the same bars yesterday and still don't have it down. 

Is it just that her memory is better or are there methods of memorizing she has developed that I haven't yet?  I would ask her how she does it but I wont see her till next lesson and I'm supposed to have it all memorized by then.

Thanks.
Karim

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

First off, practice hands alone in this piece. Find out the theme and the motives. Isolate them and play them. Which invention is it? Don't try to study on note at a time but rather a motive at a time. I am going to use the 1st invention as a reference. Practice the themes hands together, slowly, enunciation each voice. Divide the sections whethere there is more than one voice into little bits so that you can handle them. Such as in 2 measures in the invention towards the middle, where 2 voices are going simultaneously. Once the hands know the notes, combine them a little at a time. Such as divide the 2 bars into let's say 4 sections and work on them. Make sure the eight notes aren't legato, but more non legato. Ask if you have any specific questions. Hope this helps.

[carolina estrada]

how long are you playing the piano?
Of course your teacher can memorise faster than you. And probably you have noticed he or she can read faster because he or she has been patient when being in the stage you are!
Dont be scilly to think you have no memory, that´s no sense, my friend!

what Debussy has advice u is absolutelly right. I agree. Take small parts and divide in phrases as much you can. Dont try to do more than you can and dont get upset if you cant. Just work in the tempo you need. Results will come, for sure.

[carolina estrada]

oooh!! and the most important!!

ALWAYS practise SLOWLY!!

(i know it is boring...but works)

[tac-tics]

Memorizing your first piece can take a LONG time.

I learned Invention #1 (my first real piece memorized) after an entire MONTH of playing. A month to learn about a minute thirty seconds of repetoire.

The piano is a cruel master, but after you get that first piece, it is sooooo rewarding you forget about all the hard work and sweat it cost you =-)

[debussy symbolism]

There is nothing wrong with playing a piece for over a month. It is worth it.

[karelm]

Hello - thanks for the responses.  I have been playing piano about 7 months.  The piece is Bach 2 Part Invention # 1 (the easy one).  I have to say, the music is brilliant but I am having a lot of problems playing two hands.  No problem one hand. 

Thanks,
Karim

[debussy symbolism]

Hello - thanks for the responses.  I have been playing piano about 7 months.  The piece is Bach 2 Part Invention # 1 (the easy one).  I have to say, the music is brilliant but I am having a lot of problems playing two hands.  No problem one hand. 

Thanks,
Karim

Yes combining hands is always hard. Try this, divide the music into very small sections, let's say 2 bars in the beggining of the pieces, and one bar in the middle where each hand has sixteenth notes. Practice the small sections with both hands very slowly. Don't try to rush. I mean practice slowly. And also continue learning hands a part and then combine. It takes time. Hope this helps.

[mike_lang]

.

[bernhard]

Have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,2083.msg17227.html#msg17227
(the basic theory of memory)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,3858.msg34936.html#msg34936
(the basics – includes the history of the Art of memory)

https://www.pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,7399.msg74758.html#msg74758
(the details of the process using “dozen a day” as an example)

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4321.msg40373.html#msg40373
(why do you teach? – policies and teaching methods –pragmatical theory of memory)

Best wishes,
Bernhard.