Memorizing For Young Students

[sarah_antoinette]

I am taking several of my students to the Piano Guild Auditions in a few weeks. They are all beginner level (the most advanced is in Alfred's Premiere 2A). Their songs are short....only about 8-10 measures for the two in the primer, and about 8-16 measures for the one in 2A. Their pieces have to be memorized, and I've been working with them by playing the pieces, and then taking the music away to see if they can do it on their own. Pretty much I've been telling them (and their parents!) to practice the piece 2 times with the music, then turn the book over and see if they can play it without the music, until they feel confident that they can do it without the music all the time. It seems to be working well, but I was just wondering if any other teachers had extra advice that they could give on this topic. I'm more comfortable helping my older students memorize because I know how I memorize longer pieces, but it's different for the beginners. Thanks!

[lostinidlewonder]

Instead of covering everything at once cover one note at a time (starting with the notes they are most confident with). Also highlight to them when their hand can stay in one position to play what they have to play and when it has to move. Focus practice routines on these movement groups as this is where most problems lie usually. I also use blu tack on the keys to help them memorize which notes they have to play and then slowly take them away or add them back as required. Challenge the student to get all the blu tack removed

[drorperl]

Make it into a game...a memory game, everyone loves games, and especially young ones. you play one note for them, they repeat, and if they got it right you..add...and so on, I'm sure you can think of quite a few other options to play this, also saying the names of the notes while playing this game can be helpful to some of the students...
good luck

Dror
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Dror Perl. Pianist, Composer, teacher, author of the coming soon COLOR piano books series(Jazz & Blues & contemporary for students) www.SheerPiano.com, www.myspace.com/120674416, look me up on facebook.

[tdow]

Beginner songs lend themselves perfectly to adding lyrics.  Your student may not have the musical framework in their mind yet to understand how to memorize a piece the way your older students do - but young children have incredible memories.  You just have to find a way to tap into their interests.  I'd suggest getting out your pencil and adding lyrics that appeal to each particular student's favourite topic. 

If you sing these lyrics along while they play with you in lessons - and have their parents do the same at home I promise you your students will be memorizing like a pro!  Write about their best friend, a favourite food or... "Tangles my Hampster"....whatever!  They will always remember that "Tangles tickels when he cuddles" follows "Tangles sleeps all in a huddle".  Their word memory will follow melody memory.  Repetition of playing over and over only works for some children.  Others need something more tangeable. 

If you're really creative, make the words match the melody line (talk about climbing when the melody goes up or jumping in staccato sections).  It's even etter if it rhymes as your students start to grasp phrase structure.

Have fun and be goofy.  Kids will end up LOVING the song instead of dreading playing it "one more time".

The Art and Business of Piano Teaching
teachpianotoday.com

[sarah_antoinette]

These are all great suggestions!! Thanks so much!

[mcdiddy1]

THis probably sounds very cruel and usually but what I do is I first have the student practice a piece they enjoy and learn really well. Then will their playing I snatch the music and pretend to write something in it. If they stop I just say " Oh no , just keep playing I want to check something. They often finish the song just fine and that is their lesson on memorizing. I explain they just need to learn a piece so well they can rely on the aural memory, tactical memory and visual memory. Get the sheet music out of the way of their musicality and learn the form(A , B , sections ) transitions and they will do fine.