Comments on: 12 Tips for Memorizing Piano Music http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music ...a place to exchange ideas and resources for piano teaching Mon, 21 May 2012 15:08:13 +0000 hourly 1 By: Tips on Memorizing PIano Music | PianoTeacherNOLA http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-2085 Tips on Memorizing PIano Music | PianoTeacherNOLA Sun, 11 Mar 2012 18:02:59 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-2085 [...] from Color in My Piano by Joy Morin Share this:ShareEmailStumbleUponTumblrFacebookDiggRedditLinkedInPrintTwitterLike this:LikeBe the [...] [...] from Color in My Piano by Joy Morin Share this:ShareEmailStumbleUponTumblrFacebookDiggRedditLinkedInPrintTwitterLike this:LikeBe the [...]

]]> By: Jim Larson http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1769 Jim Larson Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:19:45 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1769 An idea that has helped me - not really mine but my teacher's - is to change the time value of notes, varying between long and short. If a measure is made up of 4 quarter notes make two of them long and two short (i.e. two of them dotted and two of them eighths). Practice the entire piece this way. I am 79 years old and returning to my first love, the piano, after an absence of 50 plus years. Tough going, but I love practicing. One other tip: don't practice unless you think it will be fun to practice. This tip came to me from a very famous pianist who has just recorded the last three Beethoven sonatas. An idea that has helped me -- not really mine but my teacher’s -- is to change the time value of notes, varying between long and short. If a measure is made up of 4 quarter notes make two of them long and two short (i.e. two of them dotted and two of them eighths). Practice the entire piece this way. I am 79 years old and returning to my first love, the piano, after an absence of 50 plus years. Tough going, but I love practicing.

One other tip: don’t practice unless you think it will be fun to practice. This tip came to me from a very famous pianist who has just recorded the last three Beethoven sonatas.

]]> By: Tim http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1740 Tim Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:04:48 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1740 This is a very helpful blog. I struggle with memorization myself and thought myself alone and inferior because of which. I am 47 and learning to play piano. Years back, I was a traveling rock musician and had many, many, many songs memorized (bass and guitar). Now I will learn a song on piano and forget the entire piece overnight. Trying not to let this get me down, I go back to the song and keep working. Alas, improving all the time. I have learned to work on very small pieces at one time. Sometimes looping just a single note (or half note) to improve ability to learn, play relaxed, and remember. A comedian once said "anywhere is walking distance if you have the time." Remember there is no fire and Rome wasn't built in one day. Try to have fun working on things very slowly, learning to recall this way also. Keep The Faith (Metal Heads used to say)!!! Perfect practice makes perfect. This is a very helpful blog. I struggle with memorization myself and thought myself alone and inferior because of which. I am 47 and learning to play piano. Years back, I was a traveling rock musician and had many, many, many songs memorized (bass and guitar). Now I will learn a song on piano and forget the entire piece overnight. Trying not to let this get me down, I go back to the song and keep working. Alas, improving all the time. I have learned to work on very small pieces at one time. Sometimes looping just a single note (or half note) to improve ability to learn, play relaxed, and remember. A comedian once said “anywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” Remember there is no fire and Rome wasn’t built in one day. Try to have fun working on things very slowly, learning to recall this way also. Keep The Faith (Metal Heads used to say)!!! Perfect practice makes perfect.

]]> By: Katherine http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1733 Katherine Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:20:03 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1733 Wow, John Noordberg! This is GREAT advice! I've always heard that sleep helps solidify memory but never thought of intentionally employing sleep to aid in the memory process. This is really cool and I can't wait to arrange my practicing this way. (Always keen on advice that requires me to sleep btw!) Wow, John Noordberg! This is GREAT advice! I’ve always heard that sleep helps solidify memory but never thought of intentionally employing sleep to aid in the memory process. This is really cool and I can’t wait to arrange my practicing this way. (Always keen on advice that requires me to sleep btw!)

]]> By: Franklin C Hughes http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1583 Franklin C Hughes Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:57:49 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1583 I took piano from 12 until I was in College. I have started back and I am in the process of memorizing old pieces. Your post pulls together bits and pieces I have had teachers use on me over the years. I am now 55 years and really focusing on memorization. I will let you know how it goes. Nice site. I took piano from 12 until I was in College. I have started back and I am in the process of memorizing old pieces. Your post pulls together bits and pieces I have had teachers use on me over the years. I am now 55 years and really focusing on memorization. I will let you know how it goes. Nice site.

]]> By: Finaz http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1556 Finaz Fri, 04 Nov 2011 03:03:46 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1556 It really helped me! Thank you very very much :-) It really helped me! Thank you very very much :-)

]]> By: John Noordberg http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1488 John Noordberg Sun, 16 Oct 2011 02:23:08 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1488 Before going to bed, go through the score (e.g. 2 pages) 4 times and put it away. A good sleep is needed.During the night the brain stores this info and is able to retrieve it to your fingers and keys. If failing do it again next night, then proceed to next measures. Go over the difficult passages repeatedly until under control. Thank of a sonata as segments. Before going to bed, go through the score (e.g. 2 pages) 4 times and put it away. A good sleep is needed.During the night the brain stores this info and is able to retrieve it to your fingers and keys. If failing do it again next night, then proceed to next measures. Go over the difficult passages repeatedly until under control. Thank of a sonata as segments.

]]> By: Piano Yoga http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1475 Piano Yoga Fri, 14 Oct 2011 00:10:08 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1475 Thank you for a very interesting post. I would also add "Play you piece as much as possible in various unfamiliar surroundings". When we memorise the piece we memorise not only the piece but also the environment where we practice: the walls, the furniture, pictures, plants, etc. So when we go to another unfamiliar place our memory cannot recognize it and gets confused. Thank you for a very interesting post. I would also add “Play you piece as much as possible in various unfamiliar surroundings”. When we memorise the piece we memorise not only the piece but also the environment where we practice: the walls, the furniture, pictures, plants, etc. So when we go to another unfamiliar place our memory cannot recognize it and gets confused.

]]> By: Nomota http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1441 Nomota Sun, 02 Oct 2011 13:57:03 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1441 Thanks for the valuable tips. I learned piano in my mid 20s for 3 years and I'm trying to start all over again after 15 years. Hopeless lack of memory capability and inability of first sight playing discourages me again. I'm trying different things and struggling to find better ways. I thought all experienced players can do memorizing and sight-playing without any trouble. Now I'm a little bit encouraged. Thanks for the valuable tips. I learned piano in my mid 20s for 3 years and I’m trying to start all over again after 15 years. Hopeless lack of memory capability and inability of first sight playing discourages me again. I’m trying different things and struggling to find better ways.
I thought all experienced players can do memorizing and sight-playing without any trouble. Now I’m a little bit encouraged.

]]> By: Jen http://colorinmypiano.com/2010/03/02/12-tips-for-memorizing-piano-music/#comment-1385 Jen Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:01:08 +0000 http://colorinmypiano.com/?p=1638#comment-1385 This is a great post, thanks so much for sharing. I took piano for 14 years until I was 19, and one of the reasons I decided against music school is because I couldn't memorize to save my life. My piano teacher never gave me any of these great tips. He was definitely a person who memorized easily so I guess he couldn't relate to my struggling. I am now 42 and just starting to dig out my old repertoire, and I'm amazed and saddened by how much I have forgotten. Some pieces come back easily, others seem utterly foreign to me. But one thing I will do differently this time is learn to memorize. Your blog is fantastic. This is a great post, thanks so much for sharing. I took piano for 14 years until I was 19, and one of the reasons I decided against music school is because I couldn’t memorize to save my life. My piano teacher never gave me any of these great tips. He was definitely a person who memorized easily so I guess he couldn’t relate to my struggling. I am now 42 and just starting to dig out my old repertoire, and I’m amazed and saddened by how much I have forgotten. Some pieces come back easily, others seem utterly foreign to me. But one thing I will do differently this time is learn to memorize. Your blog is fantastic.

]]>