Piano Forum

This analogy doesn't work, either.  When we play fast for the purpose of increasing memorization, what we are doing is chunking larger pieces of information into a shorter time span.  This is the reason why Chinese speakers memorize more numbers than English speakers who memorize more numbers than Farsi speakers; the time it takes to say the numbers is the limiting factor with Farsi being the slowest of the three mentioned languages.  But back to playing, the speed forces the brain to process more information into a shorter amount of time.  This is mental effort.

Well, it's a hell of a lot closer. How can a rambling speech vs a 3 sentence version be remotely comparable- considering that every note counts as significant content when you have to memorise something. Nothing you say above negates the fact that you must memorise EVERY detail and evolve to a product that replicates something without error. If we must use analogies, the best I can think of is to say that if you are to recite a written speech at high speed, it's best to work on memorising it first and practise both reading and saying it at regular speeds. You will not memorise it quicker by forcing yourself to say it fast at the outset, but will instead make errors and get confused. However, analogies prove nothing. I'm more interested in the issue under discussion. In fact, considering the greater density of information that must be processed in reading to play piano music at speed (compared to reading and reciting words at speed) the actual situation makes the point far better than any partial comparisons. There's even more difficulty in going to straight to high speeds at a piano than when reading unfamiliar words at speed.

You are still confusing learning to play the piano as opposed to learning the music.  It is assumed you already know how to play, thus the mechanics have already been learned and is a non-issue.

Um, yes. Are we also assuming that the Tooth Fairy exists? You seriously think anyone who has good technique can do no wrong when playing difficult music fast and loud from the very outset? I have already dealt with this issue and would be more interested in a follow up than repetition of this ludicrous initial argument. As I already pointed out, you're living in a fantasy world if you believe this fills in the gaping hole in your theory. Even the finest of mechanisms will go off track over time, if the pianist spends their time playing fast and loud without preparation.

The above argument is a bit like the old crap golf joke about how to always guarantee getting the ball in the hole in two putts (ie. always leave the first putt an inch away from the hole). Even in the case of the greatest sight-players in the world they memorise LESS if they force themselves to play fast and loud right off. It makes the fingers make more errors and the brain has less to time to adequately absorb information. Even if the notes are executed accurately (despite the absurd improbability, due to the mindset), there is less sensitivity and awareness of the physical procedures when a player is pushing themself to go faster. It will most certainly not lead to better memorisation.

I am really quite baffled as to why you are trying to sculpt reality into fitting what is the one of the most dubious theories I have ever heard.

The only thing you can say about fast playing is that it forces the brain to organise things into mental chunks. That's one of the reasons why it's useful alongside slow practise- but only if you do it in very short bursts (generally much less than a bar at a time) and go back to slow precise work whenever the slightest holes in the execution arise. If you simply plough through, your brain practises nothing but useless information and errors cannot be fixed. Also, a good player organises information into chunks whatever speed they go at. Only inexperienced players miss these issues in slow work.