This blog is for you, students.
As festival time approaches, you all work hard on many things in your music, to include memorization.
How do you memorize?
First, I am going to tell you how NOT to memorize:
Don't rely on your fingers to know the way. When you play your piece for a long time, your fingers automatically move to the right notes. Or, do they? If your brain is not engaged, then this is much like going boating without a life jacket. You may fall in, and not be able to save yourself! Just when you least expect it!
So, what do you do? You make sure your brain understands the music. Know what key you are in, know the key changes, know what chord you are playing, and know what the pattern of notes is.
Compare like phrases and sections, for any subtle changes.
Know the starting notes of each section. This will create landmarks in the music, safe harbors that you can immediately jump to if you do forget the music for a moment.
Have a friend or parent play scrabble with you. Here, number the sections/phrases you have decided to be your landmarks. When mom asks for number 4, you start at that point and play forward. You then stop at the next landmark. Mix up the numbers, to be sure you can quickly begin at any point.
ANALYZING phrases and sections allows you to know the structure of your piece. You will understand the music better this way.
You can do some of this work AWAY from the piano, with your brain and a pencil.
So, be sure your BRAIN knows what comes next all the time, and you should be okay.
Mine is a short version. For an extended in depth
http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com/2007/07/memorization-tips-and-hacks.html
view on how to memorize, try the link above:
Happy memorizing,
rowsellpiano
As festival time approaches, you all work hard on many things in your music, to include memorization.
How do you memorize?
First, I am going to tell you how NOT to memorize:
Don't rely on your fingers to know the way. When you play your piece for a long time, your fingers automatically move to the right notes. Or, do they? If your brain is not engaged, then this is much like going boating without a life jacket. You may fall in, and not be able to save yourself! Just when you least expect it!
So, what do you do? You make sure your brain understands the music. Know what key you are in, know the key changes, know what chord you are playing, and know what the pattern of notes is.
Compare like phrases and sections, for any subtle changes.
Know the starting notes of each section. This will create landmarks in the music, safe harbors that you can immediately jump to if you do forget the music for a moment.
Have a friend or parent play scrabble with you. Here, number the sections/phrases you have decided to be your landmarks. When mom asks for number 4, you start at that point and play forward. You then stop at the next landmark. Mix up the numbers, to be sure you can quickly begin at any point.
ANALYZING phrases and sections allows you to know the structure of your piece. You will understand the music better this way.
You can do some of this work AWAY from the piano, with your brain and a pencil.
So, be sure your BRAIN knows what comes next all the time, and you should be okay.
Mine is a short version. For an extended in depth
http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com/2007/07/memorization-tips-and-hacks.html
view on how to memorize, try the link above:
Happy memorizing,
rowsellpiano
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