Brain Efficiency

[royheath]

Hi, I am new to this forum.  I consider myself an accomplished pianist.  I kick myself for not continuing piano in college.  I am happy when I learn a new piece.  I like to play through a short list of pieces.  When I do, it is as if my brain is most efficient, or at least more parts of my brain are working together toward a goal.  I am curious if someone can direct me to some published literature that discusses the pros and cons of playing by memory versus playing pieces that I need the sheet music in front of me to play the piece.  And then there are the pieces I cannot play easily, even with the music, so those are in yet another category concerning cognitive processes.
I am retired now and have convinced myself that when I play pieces from memory, my brain is functioning at perhaps the highest efficiency level.  Is this a reasonable perspective?

[ego0720]

“I am curious if someone can direct me to some published literature that discusses the pros and cons of playing by memory versus playing pieces that I need the sheet music in front of me to play the piece.“ Do u mean sight reading vs memorizing? Yes they have discussed this a lot on this forum. Even about potential scientific studies to make music efficient. It’s largely theoretical and too broad of a topic. And probably never will be proven except in small fries (ie scientifically) bc it’s partly a combination of so many skill sets with benefits that are rather self-evident than evidence-based due to the 1) limited resources 2) disagreements between models by which to measure 3) purpose of investing in such studies. Music selection tend to be personal and I usually have to research materials that resonate to my taste. Like the information overload plaguing this cycle of humanity .. we have more information (music sheets) than we have processing of those materials (organized better than top 100 songs) for a meaningful list and that’s still being sorted out on individual levels.

This is my two cents via intuition. Memory itself is difficult to tackle as it relates primarily to the 3 senses (sight sound touch) + brain cpu. Bears and dogs have memories by smell. Piano memory one would think is by ear but also involves eyes and touch in most cases. Hence it becomes a multi sensory integration system. When you say you memorize you can memorize by any one of the three senses (to start) or any combination thereof all the three senses. And then build up usage of as many senses and organ when mastered. And if u can stratify by the senses you will demonstrate control of those components but normally we dont think about it. Piano does enlarge the bridge that connects the two hemispheres of the brain by 10-15% over the average person who does not do music.

When you say you play by memory you do increase the memory capacity of your brain. Efficiency is specific matter of memory processing and learning and usually that is true but to varying degrees between individuals. For example, some ppl memorize by decoding pieces (by studying the piece well and memorize — could be by ear or just remodeling the piece in one’s head that is more sensical to the person) versus sight readers who play using sight-brain integration (it can include the mind-created audio sound different from your actual hearing and-or finger system with input from sight). Sight readers eventually will memorize pieces but the reverse may not be true.. memorizers may not necessarily build on sight reading skills. That is why even if you think you are doing well you can still learn a lot from the game if u keep an open mind about the lens you look at it with. If you take programming, you will know that it’s not enough to write a code that works. Sometimes you have to clean it up to run faster so the hardware doesn’t overheat. Sometimes the art is to execute the goal with the littlest lines as possible. By analogy, many things in piano can be better (subject to interpretation).

“my brain is functioning at perhaps the highest efficiency level” I would have reservations and change to “higher” to leave room for potential growth-yet-to-be-seen. I liken it to each person walking in a dark cave using a flashlight .. we only see what is flashed on. We don’t know of our limitations until hindsight teaches us of our self-induced propaganda.