How To Practice - Memorisation

Memory Master

How To Practice — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:59:52 +0000

Photo courtesy of DerrickT

For advanced memorisation (no instrument needed here!)

Choose a section of music - something you've played already or something new and spend some time just looking at it, noting every detail.

When you have done this several times close the music & try to write it out on manuscript paper.

Check it against the original, and score one point for every dot, dynamic or element that you have missed. The idea is to get the lowest score possible. Read more . . .

Talk Through The Piece

How To Practice — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:36:28 +0000

Make sure that your memorisation efforts have been successful rather than lucky.

Referring to the relevant section of music (but without looking at it) describe every element on the page as well as all the things you"ll need to just think about during the performance. The more details the better, and if you can talk your way through the whole piece in this manner then you really have learnt it from memory! Read more . . .

Memory Challenge

How To Practice — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:41:33 +0000

Photo courtesy of Aeioux

Improve your memorisation skills & confidence.

This is a difficult technique to master. If you can do it you will have the advantage of the music being firmly in your head before going anywhere near your instrument.

To use this practise method you need a section of music " it could be something you have played before or could be something totally new.

To begin you need to decide how much of this section of music you could play from memory first time. Usually you would begin with a few notes or a few bars and as you get more experienced you could start with larger sections of music. Once you've decided it's on to the memorisation. Read more . . .

Moving Day

How To Practice — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:39:14 +0000

Music is often used as a "crutch" for performers. Even when people know a piece very, very well they still use music as a kind of "safety net". So for those that are reliant on the music and are nervous of playing without it here is the practice method for you.

Place the piece of music you want to memorise on the music stand in front of you. Try to play it from memory - don't worry it is there in front of you in case you forget anything.

Next move the music to one side by a couple of feet so that you can still see it but so that it is not in front of you. Play from memory again. If you forget any bits the music is still there - just not as easy to see as before. Read more . . .