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One of the first things I do when learning a new piece is to analyze the structure, and harmony of the work. I call this “kitchen table “ practicing. As I am learning the notes, dynamics, articulations, etc., I am reinforcing how the piece is put together, and memorizing the structure from the very beginning. I also like to memorize sections as I go in this same process. Once I have a good understanding of the structure, it makes it far easier to memorize small sections. I also test my memory of these sections at various tempos. I use this approach with my students, as well, and it has been very successful
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Jennifer Case Stull What a fantastic approach to learning! Analyzing the structure and harmony of a piece indeed sets a strong foundation for memorization. Your method of breaking it down into manageable sections and testing at various tempos seems incredibly effective, not just for you but also for your students. It's fascinating how music can intertwine with memory techniques. Have you found any specific exercises or pieces that particularly challenge this method? I’m sure many in the community can relate to your kitchen table practice!
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Dominic Cheli
What a great question! As far as exercises, I find they are generally very pattern oriented, so rarely is that an issue. I cannot think of one offhand.
Recently I have been working on memorizing Poulenc’s Novelettes, and the third of these pieces has been a challenge to commit to memory. I find when I have expansive reaches in a section it is challenging to remember just where I am going. In the case of this piece, my kitchen table work consisted largely of circling octave jumps in the left hand and then identifying the intervals in between to find a pattern. Unfortunately, Poulenc doesn’t seem to repeat the sequence of intervals very regularly which has been my issue, so I relied mostly on harmonic structure, and the rare occasion where I could grasp a repeated pattern. If this happens, I just continue to look for patterns as I learn the piece. I inevitably miss things when just looking at it the first time. For me the physical act of playing the piece reveals things I did not see as well as when you begin to work out fingerings, etc. It’s always a fun process!
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Jennifer Case Stull Great insights, Jennifer! Memorizing challenging pieces can be quite the journey, especially with the complexities of Poulenc’s Novelettes. Your approach of identifying patterns and breaking the music into manageable segments is an effective strategy. Every piece is so layered - the more you look at it, the more intricate and beautiful it becomes!
Awesome work so far!
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