memorizing long songs

[rjarsenault1101]

how is it done? what's the best way to memorize a song in general?

[p2u_]

how is it done? what's the best way to memorize a song in general?

How to Memorize Lyrics of a Song - 17 steps - Wiki How.
How to Memorize Lyrics, Chords and Chord Progressions.

Paul

[chopin2015]

Find structure and make it flow by using good planning, smart fingering that allows phrazing to come out, and music theory helps define the music which you will learn. Thats a very short story, listen to the long songs and try to express what you hear in detail.

[matt_walker]

I believe most pieces are learnt off by heart by amateurs through muscle-memory, ie. by simply playing the piece over and over. I tend to find that the only sections of a piece I can really remember are the tricky bits that I've had to practise a lot.

There are techniques you can use to try and learn to remember, which involves learning the chord progression first as 'pegs' and then 'fitting' the rest around them.

[danhuyle]

1. Memorize the hardest parts first and the easiest parts last.
2. I don't bother memorizing in the first 6 months.
3. Is the piece "memorize friendly"?

That's my approach to memorizing pieces. Other pianists use other techniques.

[nanabush]

Try memorizing hands separately.  A lot of issues people have with memory is that the hands just go out of synch, then the player has to stutter several times on the same spot to get it to 'click' again.

See if you can do portions of the left hand (on its own) without the score in front of you.  Being able to hear both parts at will while playing the piece helps you absorb it deeper.

Harmonic progressions are great too...I find really slow pieces I HAVE to memorize the harmony, or else it just becomes a daunting exercise to cram down as much crap as I can in a sitting.

[maitea]

There are different types of memory, visual, auditive, muscular, analytical.. Everyone tends to favour naturally at least one of those, and I think the key is "complementing" with the others. 

Muscular memory is usually the easiest to "absorb", but in my experience the most unreliable under stress circumstances. Therefore, spending time working on the architecture of the score, analysing it, explaining it to yourself will help building a more solid foundation in your memory.

I've always thought I struggled with memorizing, but the problem was that I actually set myself very strict rules, as in "memorize all this in a day", and that pressure was handicapping my learning process. Now I let go, and there is no problem at all! I have a very good visual memory, so I tend to see the score in front of me, I practice a lot hands separate to really know all voices, and specially LISTEN to the left hand. And I always work on it's structure, analysing the piece, harmony etc.

Also, the more you memorize the easier it will get, contrary to the belief of many people, this is scientifically proved! Be patient with yourself and enjoy playing

[xdjuicebox]

It seems like I keep bringing up "Fundamentals of Piano Practice," but it really does work

https://pianofundamentals.com/book/en/1.III.6.1

Just read that chapter, and apply it. It's incredible how fast you can remember songs.

[pianoplunker]

how is it done? what's the best way to memorize a song in general?

The term "memorize" has so many different attributes which requires different approaches. For instance , there is motor memory where your fingers remember but your mind may not. That is achieved simply by repetition. Then there is "thinking" memory which is all in your head while you play and you actually think about what to execute. Then there is short-term memory such as learning a piece to play next week, or even sight read ( sight reading requires memory). Then there is long-term memory when you play a piece 10 years later.  For me, the best way to memorize "in general" is to achieve it naturally by appropriate practicing. Not by actually "memorizing" as a practice concept, but the practice concepts actually lead to memorizing naturally. Such as very slowly going through hands separate and actually working on the fingerings makes me remember much better. Also just generally loving the music can help remember.   There are some who think that memorizing is done after you have accomplished the piece. Then you memorize as its own special concept. I used to do that, spend time simply running thru by memory, but that actually is not good practice for me - I end up just playing it until I forget and then start over - not good practice. So I find that there is no good time to sit down and "memorize" but when I have practiced a piece very well, I can play it very well without the music in front of me.
Improvising also can help fill memory gaps while performing and that is why improvising is a practice concept that should be done regularly. It helps me greatly, especially for those pieces I have not played or practiced for a while