memorization

[drumajorchick]

I have to memorize a piece that is fairly long and I need some good tips on memorizing.

[remnantpark]

Basically, there are a lot of ways to memorize. You just need to find which one works best for /you/.
#1) Some just naturally memorize it after playing the piece several times. For me, this method works best... So really, I just pretend I'm reading the piece in my head and remember the notes.
#2) Divide the piece into sections and make a goal to memorize one part of the piece for today's practice. Later on, you put it altogether.
#3) Do you have good musical ears? If you can recognize pitches and notes just by listening, then you can follow the tune and "work your way" out in the sticky spots by using your ears...Ouch. Well, I /do/ know one friend who has a natural ear and can figure out the piece along the way.
#4) Maybe you should just try to play the whole piece without looking and find the spots you don't know. Then, just work the hard spots after playing through.

[shortandsilly]

I have to memorize a piece that is fairly long and I need some good tips on memorizing.

the most popular method in my band program is just to play it over and over and over. they say "if you can play it one hundred times in a row, you've go it." take it apart first and play over and over..try dividing it by "thoughts". then once you take it apart and play each "thought" one hundred times put it all together and play it one hundred times. one hundred may be a bigger number than needed though..even doing it five times will help honestly. your fingers have a memory believe it or not and the more you play something the better that memory. repetition is the best key.

[fluteguy18]

I will tell you a little story of a woman who won her job because she memorized, then I will tell you what she did.

My current flute professor was taught by Mrs. Dwyer [ full name is something like Doriot Dwyer..... teaches at the Boston Conservatory]. It used to be, that all major/ principal positions in all major orchestras were held by men. It was the standard of the times, because it was believed that women were not as powerful/good players. Mrs. Dwyer went in to an audition for a major orchestra [Boston Phil I think]. She played everything perfectly from memory. They wanted to test her even further to make sure that she was the ONE. And they wanted to ask her to come back another day with more selections. She told them she would play the pieces right now from memory. Every piece that they requested from her, she played from memory. With that audition, she became the FIRST woman to win a principle position in a major orchestra. Her memorization skills are what won her that position.

She passed her knowledge of memorization skills down to my current teacher, and now my teacher has passed it to me. Now, I will share.

Look for patterns. Patterns in melody, in shape of the music [ whether the notes go up or down, looking at the shape of the notes on the page] patterns in everything. Look to see in places that you have jumps what the interval is [ 3rds, fourths etc]. Look for every kind of pattern that you can think of. Then, while you play the piece, think about the patterns, and engrave them into your mind. It is difficult at first, but suddenly, memorizing becomes quite easy. Just look for patterns throughout the piece. I just recently memorized the piece "Poem" by Charles T. Griffes for a competition I am in, and it is over 10 minutes long.

Look for patterns, and repitition. It is how Mrs. Dwyer got her job. So, I think it is bound to work.

[remnantpark]

Hmm...Intelligent. That's sorta where my teacher(piano) hinted, but she never really used them for memorization. She tells me the first time I get this music..I find the patterns, use phrasing etc. Smart idea...