Since I've made made head-on attack on my new piano, I've found myself remembering many of the things I had previously lost through years of not having access to a piano and only irregular, short practice sessions.
One thing I've noticed is that I have the same problem now as I've always had... Namely, reading notes that are far above (and far below) the regular staff lines. Specifically, in the treble clef, any note above a high "E" or below an "A" on the other end.... And then, any note lower than a low "C" in the bass clef. I was taught (since I was a little kid, those happy, easy mnemonics to help you remember the progression of notes on the staff) but I don't remember my teachers ever really stressing those notes that fall outside those bounds too much. The only way I was taught, was to just "count."
Well, fast-forward to now, and these notes cause me unending grief, and I find myself having to stop and count my way up (or down) to the appropriate note many times during any given piece. This means stopping, thinking about it, and losing the flow of what I was doing up to that point. So then, I must scribble a note to myself as to what the heck that note/notes (if it's a chord) actually are, otherwise I will definitely forget what it was supposed to be -- even the next time a play that passage.
Are there any specific exercises, drills or mnemonics that can help me with this particular issue? Or is it just a matter of rote learning? (I.e. Keep hammering away at it until it all becomes second nature?)
Thanks! :-)