Memorizing versus Playing by sight

[ThomasBecket]

I have a question

As I learning the piano, I am using a book called "First Lessons in Bach", with nice little minuets.   My approach so far has been to try to be able to play the Bach pieces from the score only, and not rely on just memorizing the piece.  Once I learn a piece where I can play it by sight reading, I move on to the next one.  This sometimes makes me stumble in certain parts, as my brain-eye-hand coordination is not all what it should be just yet.  Even though I would learn the peice easier if I just tried to memorize it, I figured that by doing this, it would help my coordination between what I see on the score, and what my hands are doing.  My thinking is that this will help me down the road with other more challengine pieces.

I was just wondering if this approach is wise.  The converse approach would be to just learn the pieces by memory, and thus move on to other pieces, and have more pieces under my belt, but then would my sight-playing suffer?  Or does sight-playing just develop naturally over time?

I was just wondering what people here recommend.

Thomas

[richard w]

These issues are discussed at great length in Fundamentals of Piano Practice By CC Chang, available at the following website.

https://members.aol.com/chang8828/contents.htm

Until recently, I've been doing what you are currently doing, but reading Chang is making me completely reconsider my approach. In short, it turns out that you can focus better on your technique and progress faster if you commit pieces to memory and work on them away from the score. Plus, you will then build up a memorized repertoire, as long as you attend to your memorized pieces from time to time. To become proficient at sight reading you need to work on a range of different skills, and you should practise with a different set of pieces to your repertoire work. Left on its own, sight reading will develop on its own, but only very very slowly.



Richard.

[ThomasBecket]

Thanks....freebies are always good.   What do you know about this author?  Is he any good?  Are there any books that one can order from Amazon that talk about best ways to practice?

[richard w]

What do you know about this author?  Is he any good?

I think one should always approach a new text with both a healthy scepticism and an open mind. With this approach you can't go too far wrong.  Chang is actually my bedtime reading at the moment, but what I have read so far would lead me to conclude that this book is a worthwhile text. I wouldn't have mentioned it if I didn't think it capable of supplying the information you requested. Chang does go into some detail on the matters in your original question.

Are there any books that one can order from Amazon that talk about best ways to practice?

I don't know of any other titles specifically on how to practise. In fact, if my memory serves me correctly, Chang actually makes the point that his book was needed as there are no other books available specifically on this subject. There are however many books about playing the piano. Chang refers to them in his book, and they have been referred to before on this forum. Try a search for 'books' and see what has been recommended in the past.



Richard.

[Piazzo22]

You will be happy with Chang´s obvious methods, (we all do them when starting to play the piano, because it´s the easy way when you don´t know how to read, and don´t want to practice very much).
But, really... I don´t know any serious piano teacher from a recognized conservatory that recommends to memorize before you play.
They all recommend repetition of little sections with the music in front. Eventually you´re supossed to memorize it by ear and motions, and with theory only some sections if needed when you fail with the other fastest methods..