Memorization techniques
Memorization techniques will aid your memory of music, a valuable skill in committing music to memory. These tips and strategies will make the process much easier and shorter.  There are three types of learners...
- Visual - learns from mnemonics
Use that music! Even when you feel the piece is memorized, practice with the music. Alternate one memorized time with one use of music. - Auditory - learns from listening
Listen to a recording of the piece. This gets the music into your ears and brains correctly so that you know right away if you're playing something incorrectly. - Kinesthetic learner - learns from repeated actions
Good old rote practice is invaluable. Repetitions along with memorization strategies.
For fastest and best results, combine all three styles of memorization techniques into your practice. Music memory...Why memorize music? Many dread memorization and having to perform music from memory. Forgetting musical passages during a performance can be a nightmare! I know, I've been there!
It used to be standard practice that musicians performed from memory, especially in concerto performances. Now, we're seeing musicians playing with their sheet music on a stand nearby. Why the change?Anyone can have a memory lapse at any time which really spoils the listener's experience.
What is the ultimate point of musical performance? A memory test or sharing music? I believe that musicians and listeners have decided that having sheet music nearby does not have any effect on the beauty of the performance. So why bother with music memory?Memorization greatly aids the learning process. If you think you have a piece learned, try playing it from memory! It will be very revealing.
Even if you don't plan to perform from memory, actually memorizing a piece and having the ability to play it from memory, even in a rehearsal setting, provides a better learning experience and a better performance. Many flutists feel that they concentrate more on making music instead of simply playing notes when they play from memory. A music stand off to the side is very unobtrusive, isn't it? Memorization techniques...Rote learning is the standard method of memorization tip, but simply plowing through a piece of music from beginning to end is ineffective and a poor use of time.
Straight run-throughs are necessary, but check out these memorization techniques as well.... - Learn one measure at a time and add one measure each time.
- Same as #1, but start from the end. Play the last measure, then play the last two measures, etc.
- Sing the music, then play it on your flute.
- Become your own lyricist: Write words for the music and sing it. Think of the words as you play the music on your flute.
- Make up a story for your music. Make it logical for the style of the piece.
- Use your metronome. Start with a too-slow tempo. Move the tempo up by one notch at a time.
Memorizing music...Learning a piece of music from memory requires proper technique. Slopping through notes doesn't cut it.
You can think about the expressiveness of the music, including dynamics and tempo, instead of just getting the notes. How to memorize music...Use all the techniques available.
- Listen to recordings of the music a lot.
- Don't stop using music too early. You can learn mistakes if you stop looking at the music too soon.
- Use all the tips and strategies for learning notes quickly.
- Rote learning is a good thing! Many repetitions are needed.
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