How much at any one time?

[justliam]

Ok, it's widely accepted that if you play music from memory you have the oppurtunity to play it far better. So I was just wondering (excluded exams/competitions) how many pieces do you know by memory at any one time? Pieces you just love to play for example and either never forget them or you just keep refreshing it, or is just a case that you remember everything you've ever done?

[jason2711]

I think it depends, as I learn pieces there are some which stick to memory (generally the ones i enjoy playing more) and others which i forget quickly enough.  But over time, the amount of pieces I know from memory is increasing (though never as much as I'd like ).  I guess it depends on how well you knew the piece from memory to begin with. I was able to play Poulenc's second novelette from memory without having played it in months, but forgot the first movement of beethoven's sonata opus 10/1 probably a week after having it from memory.  I was however, much more on top of the Poulenc, and had practised it far more to begin with, so I think there can be different levels of memorisation as well, rather than just simply being 'memorised'.

*realises I simply made things murkier *

perhaps, to slightly answer the question, currently, I probably have about 30-35 minutes of memorised repertoire, but a lot more repertoire which I could perform, but not from memory.  I'm not a concert pianist or a conservatoire student, those guys have hours upon hours of repertoire (well, at least the concert pianists do, the students are getting there....)

edit... just realised that you excluded exams/competitions

that leaves, as memorised repertoire which I'm not doing for competitions or exams (well, i'm not doing any exams )

chopin ballade number 1, rachmaninoff prelude in C# minor, Liszt La Campanella and Poulenc's 2nd novelette

hmm I've just realised how overplayed my extra pieces are (except for the poulenc). Ah well, I guess they're overplayed for a reason!

[steve jones]

I know every piece Iv ever learned from memory, although some I would need to just have a quick look at the score again before playing.

Imo, if you get used to learning this way then there is no limit to how much you could accumilate. Maintaining a large rep might be quite labourious though, especially if you are working hard on new material.

SJ