How do you memorize music?
How do you memorize music?
82 replies
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Lots of interesting points. I like the breakdown of the 4 modes of memorization. For me, definitely the auditory part is the most important, especially initially, and longer term (say a year after I last performed it).
The downside of relying on auditory memory is that I can't play if the piano is out of tuned (or tuned differently than mine). I get rather disoriented from what I hear I kept doubting myself if I even got the right notes or not.
I'm curious if this happens to anyone else who tends to play from memory.
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I analyze it first. What chord progression, diatonic or not, any special functions like double dominants, secondary dominants, modulation points.
I search for pattens, repetitions, anything that is repetitive or has a structure. Sequences, a rhythmic pattern etc And if left hand notes are forming a broken chord or a circle of fifth progression or repetitive pattern like "fifth down, step up, fifth down, step up", something like that.
When something is breaking out of that structure I pay extra attention.
Then I go by a mixture of ear, visual, body feel. So my ear has usually the melody remembered, but isn't good enough to really nail all intervals down, so my mind is more like: "now the big one up, scale down, same again on 5th degree but with melodic minor, thirds alternating, the weird thumb crisscrossthingy, and then the black key part with the wide body movements, all starting on the right edge black keys."
Left hand usually thinks in chords and "the first inverted, then the powerchords twice, then B7 first narrow then wide..."
And I think I also register some left hand notes, especially the first ones in a bar or the ones that go directly with the left hand chord as chord notes. Like I have that as a memory anchor, when notes are doubled or supplement the chord... sometimes...not always.
Very weird system, now that I read it 😆 But it works far too well. So well, that I really am far behind with sightreading, because I can play my pieces memorized far too quickly and don't look at the sheet anymore. 🙄
Plus I realize how important a harmonic structure is for me, because I am way worse at memorizing counterpoint. I have to rely a lot more on muscle memory and ear then, and as I don't memorize so quickly I need to play from sheet a lot more, which makes me kearn these pieces a lot slower and with lots of diffuiculty bringing them up tempo - being restricted not physically but because I can't read fadt enough to fit the physical tempo I could already manage.
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Kaja said:
but after 4-5 years life got in the way and the Sax was put in its boxI detest how "life gets in the way" in so many ways. For me, as a musician, I find it equally annoying because when life gets in the way it prevents me from growing as a perons, because music informs my life more than anything else.
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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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A couple of years ago, I learned from an online video that it was absolutely necessary to group notes before fingering.
The reason was to ensure good arm and hand movements and structure the musical information. In patterns, when the hand is in the correct position, it's easier moving the fingers.
What it wasn't mentioned is that this "choreography" helps with learning and remembering music because the information about where to place the hands is easier to learn than the actual finger movements. Kind of higher level than fingers.
How many times have I realized I couldn't remember what was next! but my hands were on the right places, and then I remembered what I had to play!
Once i noticed this it made me easier learning pieces.
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Just an interesting point. I've always had trouble memorising except when doing exams. (all the hard work). Not long ago I received my genetic tendencies back from Ancestry (a genealogy site). They continually add new features. This last one showed that I had a strong leaning towards music and art but had a poor result for musical memory. So now at least I know that I need to work harder. I also use the chord structure method. Really like the idea of printing and cutting up by line. Seems a good way to help with continuing with general mistakes as well. A lot of good ideas. Thank you all.
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I am not a strong sight-reader and mostly play by ear, and can usually memorize a piece after hearing it once. I also memorize patterns like chord progressions and cadences, especially in classical-era music.
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I want to apologize for my long response. But I am 71 years old and I have no problem memorizing music at all. But it wasn't always the case.
I do have the benefit of a good ear. But that wasn't enough to make my memorization as good as it is now. I would like to share what I have learned. Hopefully some of you will find something in what I have to say very helpful. It was a life saver for me because I can only play from memory! I can't play and read sheet music at the same time at all! I can read sheet music to learn the piece I want to play. But doing both at the same time? Not happening!
I learned that the worst way to memorize is by playing through repetition. I used to do it that way and it never quite stuck long term, only short term. I have recently learned new modern methods from someone who has studied brain research especially memory. This process goes for all types of memorization, not just music.
This is how I do it. Start memorizing as soon as you start learning the piece. You are only going to be in this place once. Learning the entire piece may possibly put you at a disadvantage for long term memorization later. It may be possible you could know the piece too well, and you can't take full advantage of putting this into your long term memory. I know this may sound weird, but this is about long term memory vs short term. Not about playing the piano. I now look at the sheet music and play each line very slowly and study it as I am playing. Once I think I am 75 to 80 percent confident that I may know it, I close the sheet music. I test myself and I try to remember it. I try not to go further than about 80 percent confidence. The more you struggle to correctly remember the more successful you will be at putting this passage into your long-term memory. Hitting wrong notes in this quest doesn't matter. Your brain knows what you are trying to do, and that is to find the right note. This is based on scientific research of how the brain works. Secondly, you must test yourself by putting some time between initial memorizing and replaying to see if you've got it. If you're not successful, you try again. But it should be easier this time because you already have a head start. But try to test yourself without the sheet music first. Just refer to it very briefly if you must and close the book to try again. You are not learning how to memorize as much as you are learning "how to remember". By the time you finish learning the piece, you essentially have it in your long-term memory as well. Now just play from time to time to maintain what you have learned. It should feel almost effortless to remember. I have never forgotten a piece since I started doing it this way. I learn the piece much faster because I don't spend any time on blind repetition. Repeating passages is now only for improving on them. The only pieces I sometimes forget are the ones I already learned in the past from just repetition. There seems to be a connection to how I initially memorized through repetition and why they pose a challenge to me even to this day. And Most of them are lower level and simpler than what I am doing now.
Some things to think about. Don't try to clog your brain up with too many lines to memorize at one time. Even if you can play them, don't add them to your memorization process till you are ready to add them. What you have already memorized needs to be effortless to remember days apart. Time is important. This is going to require patience. Take it slow and steady. You are trying to memorize a piece that if only played occasionally, should last for the rest of your life. I am not saying don't try to learn new lines or play them. Just don't memorize them yet. Only add what you think you can comfortably add. Memorization is a totally different skill than learning to play the piece. The more you try this type of method, the more skillful you will become. You will be much more aware of your own brain's ability to remember, and just how much to push and test it. This really works!! I have only been playing since I was 67. My mind would go blank for no reason that I could understand when I was using repetition methods. I thought I would never be able to learn many songs since I can only play from memory. I thought I was too old. I stopped the repetition method a year and a half ago and adopted this one. I have added a fair number of intermediate pieces to my repertoire. I haven't forgotten a single one of them. And I am not at all afraid to add more. My mind never goes blank anymore! Sorry for the length, but I do hope there is someone out there that can be helped by taking this different approach.