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Some years ago I played the violin in a groupe of several different instrument in a music school. There were no music score. We had to learn not only our part but also the part the other instruments by hart. I noticed that music you get in your memory by your eyes are lost after 3 months but music you get in by the ears almost never disappeard. Everybody remembers the songs we learned as children because we learned them by ears. :o)
David Russell the guitarist recommends memorizing music backwards. From the end to the beginning. That way you're always playing into something you know.
I feel like I have just met someone my own age who can explain music to me in terms I understand. Learning so much from you, Gareth and really enjoying the experience. Great advice throughout.
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Thank you Gareth, I took a speech class that was very helpful! The biggest tip I can pass on is to memorize each section as a room. That way you go from room to room with each piece. Same thing as chilunking but you imagine what happens in each room! It's not one long recital rather broken up in you're mind. You can then imagine each piece as you go along. If you mess one piece up go over that one till youve got it! You can pick a different place to stand for each section, like moving from one room to another.
Hands down the best explanation of memorization I've ever heard. Gareth I've watched this about ten times, and I just want to thank you for sharing such valuable knowledge. Ten stars!!!
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Thank you prof Gareth. When I was young I used to play lots of piano works such as Haydn and Mozart's sonatas, Chopin Studios, Bach Italian Concert, etc by heart. I moved abroad and stop playing for over 14 years. I came back to my country but worked so hard that I had very little time to study. Some years ago I decided to take on studying piano. I fight against shyness, lack of confidence and other mental blockage probably caused by my father disappointment for not being a successful musician. Yet, I hope to reach at least a medium and average level again, though I realise I cannot play without music sheet. I'm trying with some Schumann Youth Album works and see if I can play them by heart again so you guidance is most useful. I will keep on trying applying some of your tips to see if I can improve...thank you so much
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Good discussions and advice. I was just learning mandolin and attending a traditional music session, I sat and listened, and was helped playing with others on simple tunes. I soon learnt the whole body gets invilved) I toured Scotland withmy work and in some sessions, men and women sometimes ' diddled' the tunes ! Just vocalising the tune, some whistled ) they carried the tune in their hearts and heads.
Thanks. I need this. When I decided to get really serious about sightreading a few years back, I started to rely more and more heavily on reading, at the expense of memory. Now my ability to memorize is worse than it was before and I'm way too reliant on reading the page. Memorizing also helps with showing off your skills! And let's be honest, for a lot of us, that's important.
Captain, I absolutely agree ...most of us like to sound impressive and playing without music is a skill in itself. However, it places a greater burden on the performer to play without fault and therein lies the challenge...so.. all the best with your memorising Captain. You will not be disappointed.
Thanks Gareth - very many useful tips. I find it interesting that I unconsciously learn my (simple) piano pieces just by playing them (I'm playing one of Bach's Kleine Praludian in D minor) whereas learning pieces on the saxophone is harder! Your tips and ideas are much appreciated.I will try the duetting with myself !
Excellent video. Wonderful tips. In my younger years (when I was primarily a singer), I found memorization to be automatic. I have a sort of photographic memory, but it's not instantaneous. It would typically take (about) a half-dozen viewings over a week's time; but once I had it, I could recall it on demand (and tell you the page, the stave, the measure, etc.). I can still recall many pieces that I sang in High School and College that I haven't seen or sung in 40+ years. Unfortunately, once I began conducting choirs, my ability to quickly memorize seemed to degrade. I suppose that the fact that I then had to concentrate on much more than just a single voice part overwhelmed my brain. But I digress. I never really analyzed how I went about memorizing at the time. You clearly have analyzed it...quite well. These tips should give anyone (who cares to follow your advice) a leg or two up on committing music to memory. Thanks!
Well done nice approaches to memorization. Memory as a process rings true for me .. often I’ve played shows etc and reading the same score every night doesn’t get it memorized. One has to do as you say as in activating the desire to memorize. Analysis and playing dynamically are great points to apply to accomplish and help memorization. Further, one could consider playing in keys.
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Excellent information. Interestingly, some of the points made in this video apply to learning a piece from the score as well as memorizing it. My music teachers has mentioned some of these techniques for learning a piece.
I enjoyed and appreciated this SO much. I struggle with the idea of and the pressure to memorize..although I have memorized a few easy pieces….as I’m sure many have. But wow, you gave me a good idea…what about combining “duetting “ with “ away from the instrument practice “…like use a recording of yourself or another and try to play with yourself away from the piano…I am going to try this on my upcoming vacation where I will not have a piano. This was a very big help, thank you! 🙂⭐❤🙏🏼
Thanks very much for a treasure trove of ways to memorise a piece. I suppose it’s true to say that one compelling reason is that it forces the player to analyse the piece in the way you describe. Otherwise, the temptation is to just not bother to do so. In Joseph Lehvinne’s brilliant little book, PRINCIPLES OF PIANO PLAYING , he said how surprised he was that his students too often hardly knew even what key they were playing in! Could that be why, in times past, students were expected to memorise? Reading a book is just one skill. Reading sheet music is triple skilled: we listen, we read, and we play. Quite an achievement!
I find in the process of learning a piece and going over and over it I also, of course, end up memorising it. of course it depends on the length. but it's just a matter of playing it, then going back to the score and checking bits you aren't sure about. eventually you have it all memorised.
But this is not a very reliable memorization. That way you get it into your "muscle memory". But not into your conscious active memory from where you can "dig out' the piece if anything goes wrong during the performance. Usually "muscle memory memorizers" have to start from the beginning when they get lost. They can't just skip over the faulty part and continue playing as if nothing happened.
@@mayiask654 sorry, are you talking to me? once I know a score I can go to any part of it or skip a bit ( though I wouldn't like to ) if I want to. Memorisation is memorisation. If I know it then I could write it out if needs be, I don't see the problem.
@@Philrc yes, i was talking to you. OK, if it works like that for you, then you are a lucky guy. But it doesn't work for the vast majority of "muscle memory memorizers". I guess you have some kind of photographic memory so i think that you are unconsciously memorizing the score somehow like a picture. Most people don't have that kind of memory. Or you have total pitch or at least very good relative pitch so you can visualize the score by hearing it. But ask any music teacher how "reliable" memorization works for almost all of their pupils! Ask them how many of those who play solely by muscle memory can write down the score from memory! Or how many of them can skip to any part of it!
You really are a Maestro's Maestro. Part of this list was painful to listen to, when you talked about having the music running through your head. I'm not there yet. But I went through 65 years of my life joking to people that I was born with two left ears. And I might have Aural Aphantasia. I don't have music in my head. I woke up one morning and tried to sing a scale and couldn't do it. But I've been using the Rule of the Octave and singing the tonic, the third or the fifth. If anything can help change my perceptions, it will be that. And I have you to thank for teaching me ROTO.
Thanks for sharing... great video & comments...I am an 'older' musician & play piano & guitar... with the guitar playing I sing & I do have problems remembering words.... repetition is my only way but takes a lot of time... especially songs with a lot of versuses... again thanks for sharing... cheers 😀
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I'm really impressed by the story "Helping a daughter learn to drive." (16:24) There is a Chinese Proverb "教學相長" which means teaching and learning go hand in hand. Thanks Gareth for your useful hints. ☺🎼
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Thank you very much for this U-Tube video. I can’t read music and I just play by ear so I’m memory playing all the time. I do need to start reading music but find it difficult to do so but I need to start.
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My dad could play from memory like magic. He could transpose music from any key to a different key. He learned do do that from playing piano for kids choral groups in school. Sometimes a song needs to be in a higher or a lower key to accommodate the children's voices, whether higher or lower.
I've been a guitarist for over 25 years. I've played gigs via auto scroll on a tablet of the music in front of me. I played it in time and with a group just fine. My only hurdle I have as a musician. I'm terrible at committing music to memory. I can play anything in front of me easily but the memorizing I lack. That's an honest answer of my abiltites.
Thanks again, Gareth, for sharing your solid experience with us. Over the years, I realized that I can memorize popular songs much more easily than classical ones. I suppose it is because of the complexity level on each one - speaking in general terms, of course. One of my tricks for challenging classical pieces is to give a name for each part (hoping the composer will never know...)
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I perform exclusively from memory unless paid not to. Making mistakes in performance is a great way to motivate. I perform every week at a farmers market early Saturday morning 4hrs in the summer 5hrs winter.( Phoenix's mild winter) mistakes help teach improvisation and quick recovery and composure. Even though people are walking by, it's still pressure . And you are making$$ while getting invaluable training.
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The muscle memory that people keep talking about probably isn't 'muscle memory'. It's brain memory ----- the brain has somehow memorised the feeling and steps practised by our body ----- so the pattern becomes so familiar that playing the piece becomes like 'auto-pilot'. And auto-pilot is just fine for most cases ----- but is necessary to ensure that it is going to be reliable. As people have mentioned cases where auto-pilot failed during a performance (for some people --- maybe not all people) ----- and so they abruptly couldn't play the piece reliably when they all of a sudden had a memory lapse, or 'choked'. This isn't so bad for cases where this is understood ----- hence the need for back-up plans --- eg. plan B, and plan C, and incorporating all the other practice methods to ensure wheels don't fall off during a performance.
@Stfu Stupid Memorising music that we really love - and fascinated about ---- is certainly easier and maybe less of a 'chore' than music that we need to learn - such as for work/performance. Know what you mean! Music Matters goes through the various points and tips excellently ---- the advice on how to cut down on chances of really bad situations during a performance. And even if for some reason a mistake is made --- being able to recover very effectively and continue on from it. Totally agree with you about how the brain and mind works. It is definitely fascinating!
I find that playing hard piano pieces from memory is quite easy because of all the work you put in it. Maybe it's because the piano is more visual and the clarinet more tactile, but I need a lot more work to play from memory on the clarinet than on the piano. Chords and scales are also much easier to play from muscle memory on the piano in my case, but maybe that's cause the clarinet is my second instrument.
I think that your advise are great especially for the piano (which I play) but for violin or viola there is another thing and that is the position of the hands. You start with the first position and suddenly the composer demands you to play the melody in another position on another string. So to remember this is without the score is very difficult for me
Musically, I'm primarily an organist. Some organists memorize and some don't. As such, I don't play a lot of piano literature. However, I do play a lot of accompaniments. The more I can watch the conductor rather than the score, the better.
Yes you do need to play from memory because if you can't it means you don't know the music well enough. Memorizing is easy, play 1 bar or short phrase. When you have memorized it, add the next one. Don't continue until you have memorized each fragment you the you are on.Memorizing one bar at a time is effortless and you get to know the music at the same time.
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A very intersting video. I have seen players using an ipad with a footswitch to turn the page, just great if you dont tap your foot along with the tempo. 2x👍
Thank you for the tips, my problem is to memoizes the lyrics, not so much the music. As English is not my first language, I tend to use an image to memorise the words or phrases, but it’s hard once come to the proposition words and the abstract words etc…have you any tips please?
Sir, thanks for the tips. Please could you consider a video specifically for male voice choirs? We are mostly retirement ++ aged with dreadful memories and face the annual horror of learning new songs, sometimes in foreign languages, whilst trying to cling on to our repertoire. A large proportion don't read music as the effort of learning this is a distraction from the effort of memorising a part. We face the challenge when singing our parts, of being drawn to the melody and, when we are not accompanied, of maintaining pitch and getting lost in umms and aahs. There's so much to talk about and a huge and hungry audience for your thoughts.
I never needed to play from memory because I worked as church pianist and as an accompanist for choir, etc. I did play from memory when performing for piano competitions, though.
My personal view is that 'reading music' i.e. sight reading, is only useful to a point when coming to learn a new piece of music. I'm at a point where I feel I'd make more progress in playing once freed up from the chore of having to read the score and play it simultaneously. Where I've managed to liberate myself from this part of the learning process, that of learning a new piece, I find it much easier to move on once free from the onorous task of having to 'read and play'. I've come to the conclusion that it's a form of cognitive overload, that of visually tracking the score, analysing and assimilating it in real time and then if that isn't enough to contend with, then to play alongside those ongoing tasks. The playing itself e.g. fingering, tempo and dynamics etc are also a challenge in themselves. So by 'memorising' the score, or more challenging parts of a score, this enables or frees up my mind (cognitive capacity) so that I can enjoy playing the score without the frustrating process I find it can be.
That’s a perfectly valid approach if one doesn’t want to sight read or to improve sight reading skills. Obviously the video is in response to the many people asking for advice in relation to wanting to build their sight reading capacity.
Thanks, we have some on the channel you can find linked below and also some more on the way. Simple & Compound Time Signatures: ruclips.net/video/qi6uuhU1unk/видео.html How to Tell if Music is in Simple Time or Compound Time: ruclips.net/video/UqJxXH2voMI/видео.html
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Drummers are probably the least likely to study the music as written. Trust me, though, it really really helps to write out your own tabs. Lots of online tabs are wrong. Different versions of a song (e.g., official music video vs album) are the bane of drummers. And if your kit has significant differences to the original drummer's (e.g., double bass kit vs single bass kit) your brain has to convert what to do anyway - might as well write it down. The write it out tip is really good, and especially, I want to say, for those least likely to use it: drummers.
I actually started memorizing music as a kid in MARCHING band due to NECESSITY of not stepping in POO during parades :-P I also a guitar player in bands. We practice A LOT..due to all the band members has to memorize their parts. I found it EASIER with a SINGER becuase I use WORDs in songs to help guide me play different parts/phrasing in songs...aside from drummer's clash/cymble to help me keep track. i also learn how to play the drum SET..which require me to keep count and use EVERY part of my body..I can actually toss , Twirl, and catch the sticks during songs. I drop the sticks MILLIONS of times before I got the hang of it. LOTS of practice. I also LEARN how to SING and play the guitar at the sametime.... which require me to memorize the words and music to thousands of songs. I also used to get paid the bucks. All my bosses wanted to drill/grill my brain for data. I was their information center back in the days. I was the guy that data input all the data into the PC..i also assigned data/code. i used to be able to tell you every nut/bolts/system in a 10 story power plant. later I got into electronics manufacturing. I was the manager..i can tell you every parts from thousands of different assembly from the top of my head...It required alot of READING, STUDYING and COMPREHENSION. I dont believe Im super smart. I'm truly AMAZE at the human's BRAIN and what it can do...if you USE it.
I think it is best to approach solo repertoire by actually starting with memorization, once you are able to play a piece (or a portion thereof) slowly and accurately. The reiteration at a slow tempo while memorizing helps solidify the technical foundation; it is best if you start with the most difficult passages. And it breaks altogether that dependence on the score that makes memorization difficult when it comes in as the last rather than the first stage of learning a piece.
this was good. I did not hear anything I did not know, but the reinforcement is nice. I am legally blind and reading music, or in my case, lead sheets with lyrics and chords (my music ia a little more low brow than whay we are discussing here) is not an option. It is either memorize or just do not play. Lyrics are my problem because most of the stuff I play have a fairly simple music structure.
I have taught a number of blind students. They have all been fantastic memorisers. As you say, there is no choice. Fantastic that blind people can work with sound
What messes me up in memory singing is when I have to sing a couple of songs that I do know and remember and then right after I have to sing a third song that I is new to me from memory. Very tuff.
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Here're some lyrics to Debussy's Reverie, in ABRSM Grade VIII - illustrating Gareth's teaching point: Poor Claud, With his head in the clouds in Paris (Par-ee) Forming symbols in the score. Meanwhile, in the mix of composers And the pride of performers Pushing back from the press of traditional French form. ( | 18) Magic, an impressionist colour and tone There’s no precedent And no parallel Such sublime sound Taking ever high ground Though tradition is strong And the rhythm seems wrong And envy wins. ( | 33) Skill, gift, and grit all are so prominent shade, colour, tone sing forth so dominant sheer beauty displayed And new standards unfurled Bringing joy to the Muse And to the world ( | 49) Feel the measure, count the beats Sense the pleasure, praise such feats 2-3 timings, hard to master Gentle tempo, shun the faster. Leisured counting’s sure descent Like a spiral half meant Meanwhile genius flaunts the progress Of obsessive subtle nuance. Feel the measure, count the beats Sense the pleasure, praise such feats of gentle somnolescent states Fresh new paths. ( | 72) Poor Claud, With his head in the clouds in Paris What great symbols in the score!? No one, in the mix of composers And the pride of performers Can retreat to the corners Of the ship of . . . . Feel the measure, count the beats Sense the pleasure, praise such feats of gentle somnolescent owning Transformed structure, toning home......... ( | 97)
So, here's a weird thing. I'm learning piano and saxophone. Everything I've learned (using sheet music) on piano, I can play from memory (till it starts to fade). But I can only vaguely remember sax tunes, and then mostly if they're songs. But even sax phrases take a lot more work to get to stick than piono phrases.
Same here. I don’t have much of a problem memorizing piano tunes and almost no trouble at all with guitar. But with sax, which I just took up earlier this year, I’m having a terrible time. My dominant memory technique is motor memory - finger patterns - so one would think that it would be easy on the sax.
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I couldn’t play anything without memorizing. Memorizing is how I learn a piece, perhaps because I read music so very slowly that I basically have it stored in my long-term memory by the time I have figured out how to play it 😂. (I started playing piano one year ago, at the age of 63). One thing I have learned to be vigilant about: When you think you have a piece memorized, you very likely have missed something. So, as Gareth points out, if precision matters to you, don’t put the score away too early in in the memorizing process.
I have a cinematographic memory; i.e. I can remember short dialogues between people, and I remember short snippets of my life (10 seconds long at the most), but remembering music in detail is really hard for me. I've been studying many years at the Uni. but never been good at remembering details. One of the few pieces I remmebr is Liszt's 1st Consolation, it is short and once when I was 21. I was asked (on the spot) to play something at a wedding dinner, and that was only rhing I could play from memory.
@@MusicMattersGB I am really good at prima vista-playing, but that's it. As a composer, I start to think abour chord progressions and chord inversions. Not good for memorising apparently....
'Muscle memory' is metaphor it would be more useful to talk about where your fingers go. Second, talk about structure ignores chord progressions "Classical" method does too. But most players want to play music outside the classical repertoire, and learn memory playing far quicker by understanding chord progression and structure.
So many of these YT presentations about this subject but to date I haven't seen a single application of these suggestions. By this I mean all we have is the 'theory', so to speak, but no practical demonstration of it. For example, this tutor could take a novice student and/or someone at Grade 3 to 5+ and make a presentation of those students trying to apply these techniques to a new piece of music. All this would enhance the learning experience.
I’d love to do that. Unfortunately there are a number of practical reasons why this isn’t possible. A good number of people have told us that they have found the advice helpful in improving their sight reading skills so in that sense the video serves its purpose.
@@MusicMattersGB I understand the impracticality of it with smaller studios. However, it would be interesting to see it put into practice where there's a wider more plentiful supply of students willing to act as examples. I've thought about making my own demonstration of it, though of course nowhere near the professional and competence level that you operate at, to say the least! Else, again, I can understand the constraints on logistics but what a shame when so much else is given the time and space to be demonstrated at the practical level.
How can you learn a piece without memorizing it? At least for me I can't read music fast enough to play it smoothly while reading. I have to memorize it and throw away (not literally) the music. Then I can play it smoothly.
Hi. I have a problem with the piano when I want to perform in front of someone at the piano I get stuck :( As if my brain freezes, what can I do to prevent this from happening? Thanks and sorry for the English :)
One should realise that reading notes is an intelectual skill. In second instance it can become an artistic skill when you are more developed.. Playing by ear is an art iself.
I’m able to play from memories but as I’m doing that, I can’t follow the score. I can’t read while really playing lol. I admire people who can read and play at the same time
@@MusicMattersGB well, there's no technical reason to of course, but while I have been known to tape the odd chord chart to the stage where I can glance down at it - especially for tricksy jazzy changes, the convention is certainly that everything is memorised and for popular genres having music stands out would be seen as decidedly uncool! The exception seems to be for keyboardists who can get away with a chart. Good video though - one thing that I find interesting is that recall of memorised pieces seams to be context sensitive. Things that you might struggle to remember playing solo simply jump back into your fingers when playing in context with the rest of the band/ensemble etc.
But I notice this lessons not from memory. I was told many years ago that my ability to read music was going to get in my way with playing classical guitar from memory. He was correct.
Idea to try: learn a piece with the notes, then write out bits of each phrase, reducing the whole thing to a skeleton. Take away even more notes from your „notes“ and see how much you can still play. I have t admit I have not tried this method yet, as most of the stuff I learn is no more than 40-50 bars. And on another point: whenyou play blues ( and jazz) you work from a skeleton of harmony, often improving or enhancing - or dehancing - as you go.
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Very Helpful , Thanks and Bravo !
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Thank you so much!
😀
Very useful comments. I am an 84 year old non musician trying to play classical guitar and this will defiantly help.
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Some years ago I played the violin in a groupe of several different instrument in a music school. There were no music score. We had to learn not only our part but also the part the other instruments by hart. I noticed that music you get in your memory by your eyes are lost after 3 months but music you get in by the ears almost never disappeard. Everybody remembers the songs we learned as children because we learned them by ears. :o)
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David Russell the guitarist recommends memorizing music backwards. From the end to the beginning. That way you're always playing into something you know.
Great idea.
Wow, great idea, thank you.
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If David Russell says so, I might consider doing so 😂
@@zenakash well it's just an idea, not a command . I haven't bothered doing it ...
Playing from sheets can never be so free as playing from memory is, Robert Schumann said.
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I feel like I have just met someone my own age who can explain music to me in terms I understand. Learning so much from you, Gareth and really enjoying the experience. Great advice throughout.
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excellent tutorial Gareth, really useful for those of us who don't have access to a music school at present. Thank you.
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Thank you Gareth, I took a speech class that was very helpful! The biggest tip I can pass on is to memorize each section as a room. That way you go from room to room with each piece. Same thing as chilunking but you imagine what happens in each room! It's not one long recital rather broken up in you're mind. You can then imagine each piece as you go along. If you mess one piece up go over that one till youve got it! You can pick a different place to stand for each section, like moving from one room to another.
Good plan.
Hands down the best explanation of memorization I've ever heard. Gareth I've watched this about ten times, and I just want to thank you for sharing such valuable knowledge. Ten stars!!!
Glad it’s helpful.
Thank you Gareth, this is such a good detailed tutorial. I am one who likes playing through memory. This tutorial helps so much.
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Thank you prof Gareth. When I was young I used to play lots of piano works such as Haydn and Mozart's sonatas, Chopin Studios, Bach Italian Concert, etc by heart. I moved abroad and stop playing for over 14 years. I came back to my country but worked so hard that I had very little time to study. Some years ago I decided to take on studying piano. I fight against shyness, lack of confidence and other mental blockage probably caused by my father disappointment for not being a successful musician. Yet, I hope to reach at least a medium and average level again, though I realise I cannot play without music sheet. I'm trying with some Schumann Youth Album works and see if I can play them by heart again so you guidance is most useful. I will keep on trying applying some of your tips to see if I can improve...thank you so much
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Good discussions and advice. I was just learning mandolin and attending a traditional music session, I sat and listened, and was helped playing with others on simple tunes. I soon learnt the whole body gets invilved)
I toured Scotland withmy work and in some sessions, men and women sometimes ' diddled' the tunes ! Just vocalising the tune, some whistled ) they carried the tune in their hearts and heads.
Brilliant
Thanks. I need this. When I decided to get really serious about sightreading a few years back, I started to rely more and more heavily on reading, at the expense of memory. Now my ability to memorize is worse than it was before and I'm way too reliant on reading the page. Memorizing also helps with showing off your skills! And let's be honest, for a lot of us, that's important.
Captain, I absolutely agree ...most of us like to sound impressive and playing without music is a skill in itself. However, it places a greater burden on the performer to play without fault and therein lies the challenge...so.. all the best with your memorising Captain. You will not be disappointed.
Go for it!
About as complete a discussion of memorizing music as I’ve heard. Thank you!
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Thanks Gareth - very many useful tips. I find it interesting that I unconsciously learn my (simple) piano pieces just by playing them (I'm playing one of Bach's Kleine Praludian in D minor) whereas learning pieces on the saxophone is harder! Your tips and ideas are much appreciated.I will try the duetting with myself !
Great. Enjoy!
Excellent video. Wonderful tips. In my younger years (when I was primarily a singer), I found memorization to be automatic. I have a sort of photographic memory, but it's not instantaneous. It would typically take (about) a half-dozen viewings over a week's time; but once I had it, I could recall it on demand (and tell you the page, the stave, the measure, etc.). I can still recall many pieces that I sang in High School and College that I haven't seen or sung in 40+ years. Unfortunately, once I began conducting choirs, my ability to quickly memorize seemed to degrade. I suppose that the fact that I then had to concentrate on much more than just a single voice part overwhelmed my brain. But I digress. I never really analyzed how I went about memorizing at the time. You clearly have analyzed it...quite well. These tips should give anyone (who cares to follow your advice) a leg or two up on committing music to memory. Thanks!
Interesting reflection there. Thank you.
Well done nice approaches to memorization. Memory as a process rings true for me .. often I’ve played shows etc and reading the same score every night doesn’t get it memorized. One has to do as you say as in activating the desire to memorize. Analysis and playing dynamically are great points to apply to accomplish and help memorization. Further, one could consider playing in keys.
Absolutely
I always use the example of the car, especially when I talk about drumming. Thanks for the amazing quality of the videos, best wishes from Argentina!
Excellent. Greetings to you too
Thank you for your tips and for making this video! Very helpful!
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Excellent information. Interestingly, some of the points made in this video apply to learning a piece from the score as well as memorizing it. My music teachers has mentioned some of these techniques for learning a piece.
Absolutely
Thanks, good analisys of memory. Let me add another tip. "memorize by phrase" at last music is played on phases.
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Thank you so much, the whole instruction was great and very helpful .
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I enjoyed and appreciated this SO much. I struggle with the idea of and the pressure to memorize..although I have memorized a few easy pieces….as I’m sure many have. But wow, you gave me a good idea…what about combining “duetting “ with “ away from the instrument practice “…like use a recording of yourself or another and try to play with yourself away from the piano…I am going to try this on my upcoming vacation where I will not have a piano. This was a very big help, thank you! 🙂⭐❤🙏🏼
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Listening to this lecture a 2nd time really helps. Downloading it to listen again and again.
Excellent.
An excellent explanation of the importance of memory and the different aspects of it
Glad it’s helpful
Thanks very much for a treasure trove of ways to memorise a piece. I suppose it’s true to say that one compelling reason is that it forces the player to analyse the piece in the way you describe. Otherwise, the temptation is to just not bother to do so. In Joseph Lehvinne’s brilliant little book, PRINCIPLES OF PIANO PLAYING , he said how surprised he was that his students too often hardly knew even what key they were playing in! Could that be why, in times past, students were expected to memorise? Reading a book is just one skill. Reading sheet music is triple skilled: we listen, we read, and we play. Quite an achievement!
Absolutely.
I find in the process of learning a piece and going over and over it I also, of course, end up memorising it. of course it depends on the length. but it's just a matter of playing it, then going back to the score and checking bits you aren't sure about. eventually you have it all memorised.
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But this is not a very reliable memorization.
That way you get it into your "muscle memory".
But not into your conscious active memory from where you can "dig out' the piece if anything goes wrong during the performance.
Usually "muscle memory memorizers" have to start from the beginning when they get lost. They can't just skip over the faulty part and continue playing as if nothing happened.
Absolutely
@@mayiask654 sorry, are you talking to me? once I know a score I can go to any part of it or skip a bit ( though I wouldn't like to ) if I want to. Memorisation is memorisation. If I know it then I could write it out if needs be, I don't see the problem.
@@Philrc yes, i was talking to you.
OK, if it works like that for you, then you are a lucky guy. But it doesn't work for the vast majority of "muscle memory memorizers".
I guess you have some kind of photographic memory so i think that you are unconsciously memorizing the score somehow like a picture. Most people don't have that kind of memory.
Or you have total pitch or at least very good relative pitch so you can visualize the score by hearing it.
But ask any music teacher how "reliable" memorization works for almost all of their pupils! Ask them how many of those who play solely by muscle memory can write down the score from memory!
Or how many of them can skip to any part of it!
You really are a Maestro's Maestro.
Part of this list was painful to listen to, when you talked about having the music running through your head. I'm not there yet. But I went through 65 years of my life joking to people that I was born with two left ears. And I might have Aural Aphantasia. I don't have music in my head. I woke up one morning and tried to sing a scale and couldn't do it.
But I've been using the Rule of the Octave and singing the tonic, the third or the fifth. If anything can help change my perceptions, it will be that.
And I have you to thank for teaching me ROTO.
Keep going with it and you’ll be amazed at where it takes you.
Thanks for sharing... great video & comments...I am an 'older' musician & play piano & guitar... with the guitar playing I sing & I do have problems remembering words.... repetition is my only way but takes a lot of time... especially songs with a lot of versuses... again thanks for sharing... cheers 😀
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Absolutely Spot On. I think I've been or I'm at those very same 10 tips. One Step at a time
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uah! your english is so good! BBC ... i m italian but i can understand you easily! uah! nice! thank you prof. 🐻👍👍👍💥
Thanks
Exelent perspective to addres the subject.Thanks.
A pleasure
I'm really impressed by the story "Helping a daughter learn to drive." (16:24)
There is a Chinese Proverb "教學相長" which means teaching and learning go hand in hand. Thanks Gareth for your useful hints. ☺🎼
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During appearing for piano exams in my youth, memorisation was the only way to go, for me.
Thank you
True for many people.
Great vide Gareth... I'd love to see a video on the different rhythm's of sheet music (1 e + a etc.) and how to notate it. Thanks!
Okay. That’s a possible subject
After being a musician for 60 years, I memorize music by the chords. One of the melody notes is generally one of the notes in the chord.
Absolutely
Yes, this was very helpful! Thank you. 😊
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Thank you very much for this U-Tube video. I can’t read music and I just play by ear so I’m memory playing all the time. I do need to start reading music but find it difficult to do so but I need to start.
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Very useful tips and this is very true, in my practice I don't have to play from memory, but it always has its advantages.
Glad it’s helpful
My dad could play from memory like magic. He could transpose music from any key to a different key. He learned do do that from playing piano for kids choral groups in school. Sometimes a song needs to be in a higher or a lower key to accommodate the children's voices, whether higher or lower.
That kind of musical environment is ideal for acquiring these skills.
I've been a guitarist for over 25 years. I've played gigs via auto scroll on a tablet of the music in front of me. I played it in time and with a group just fine. My only hurdle I have as a musician. I'm terrible at committing music to memory. I can play anything in front of me easily but the memorizing I lack. That's an honest answer of my abiltites.
People are often memorisers or readers.
Omg! Duetting w yourself. Great idea! Also writing it out. Thanks so much
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Excellent presentation and I thank You 🤙🏽
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Gareth, just a lovely man
Most kind
24:13 I actually find that inappropriate words are often much more memorable, if you catch my drift 😉
Excellent suggestions all around!
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very helpful !!!!!!!!! tyvm for filling in the ("self taught")gaps so effectively
A pleasure. Hope you’re well.
Thanks again, Gareth, for sharing your solid experience with us. Over the years, I realized that I can memorize popular songs much more easily than classical ones. I suppose it is because of the complexity level on each one - speaking in general terms, of course. One of my tricks for challenging classical pieces is to give a name for each part (hoping the composer will never know...)
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I perform exclusively from memory unless paid not to. Making mistakes in performance is a great way to motivate. I perform every week at a farmers market early Saturday morning 4hrs in the summer 5hrs winter.( Phoenix's mild winter) mistakes help teach improvisation and quick recovery and composure. Even though people are walking by, it's still pressure . And you are making$$ while getting invaluable training.
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Thanks 😊 for the info and tips….
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thanks you for your'll video and good advices.
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The muscle memory that people keep talking about probably isn't 'muscle memory'. It's brain memory ----- the brain has somehow memorised the feeling and steps practised by our body ----- so the pattern becomes so familiar that playing the piece becomes like 'auto-pilot'. And auto-pilot is just fine for most cases ----- but is necessary to ensure that it is going to be reliable. As people have mentioned cases where auto-pilot failed during a performance (for some people --- maybe not all people) ----- and so they abruptly couldn't play the piece reliably when they all of a sudden had a memory lapse, or 'choked'. This isn't so bad for cases where this is understood ----- hence the need for back-up plans --- eg. plan B, and plan C, and incorporating all the other practice methods to ensure wheels don't fall off during a performance.
Absolutely
@Stfu Stupid Memorising music that we really love - and fascinated about ---- is certainly easier and maybe less of a 'chore' than music that we need to learn - such as for work/performance. Know what you mean! Music Matters goes through the various points and tips excellently ---- the advice on how to cut down on chances of really bad situations during a performance. And even if for some reason a mistake is made --- being able to recover very effectively and continue on from it. Totally agree with you about how the brain and mind works. It is definitely fascinating!
I find that playing hard piano pieces from memory is quite easy because of all the work you put in it. Maybe it's because the piano is more visual and the clarinet more tactile, but I need a lot more work to play from memory on the clarinet than on the piano. Chords and scales are also much easier to play from muscle memory on the piano in my case, but maybe that's cause the clarinet is my second instrument.
Those are helpful observations. Maybe it’s worth trying to visualise the keyboard when you’re playing the Clarinet?
Thank u so much. It help me a lot💚
😀
I think that your advise are great especially for the piano (which I play) but for violin or viola there is another thing and that is the position of the hands. You start with the first position and suddenly the composer demands you to play the melody in another position on another string. So to remember this is without the score is very difficult for me
That’s a very good point.
Musically, I'm primarily an organist. Some organists memorize and some don't. As such, I don't play a lot of piano literature. However, I do play a lot of accompaniments. The more I can watch the conductor rather than the score, the better.
Absolutely
Thak you for your useful tips
A pleasure
Thanks so much !
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Yes you do need to play from memory because if you can't it means you don't know the music well enough. Memorizing is easy, play 1 bar or short phrase. When you have memorized it, add the next one. Don't continue until you have memorized each fragment you the you are on.Memorizing one bar at a time is effortless and you get to know the music at the same time.
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God bless you, Gareth
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A very intersting video.
I have seen players using an ipad with a footswitch to turn the page, just great if you dont tap your foot along with the tempo. 2x👍
They’re great for dealing with page turns on an iPad but yes, there are dangers!
Thank you for the tips, my problem is to memoizes the lyrics, not so much the music. As English is not my first language, I tend to use an image to memorise the words or phrases, but it’s hard once come to the proposition words and the abstract words etc…have you any tips please?
Look for patterns eg rhyming words. Associate words with the melody. Repetition.
Sir, thanks for the tips. Please could you consider a video specifically for male voice choirs? We are mostly retirement ++ aged with dreadful memories and face the annual horror of learning new songs, sometimes in foreign languages, whilst trying to cling on to our repertoire. A large proportion don't read music as the effort of learning this is a distraction from the effort of memorising a part. We face the challenge when singing our parts, of being drawn to the melody and, when we are not accompanied, of maintaining pitch and getting lost in umms and aahs. There's so much to talk about and a huge and hungry audience for your thoughts.
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I never needed to play from memory because I worked as church pianist and as an accompanist for choir, etc. I did play from memory when performing for piano competitions, though.
That’s great.
My personal view is that 'reading music' i.e. sight reading, is only useful to a point when coming to learn a new piece of music.
I'm at a point where I feel I'd make more progress in playing once freed up from the chore of having to read the score and play it simultaneously.
Where I've managed to liberate myself from this part of the learning process, that of learning a new piece, I find it much easier to move on once free from the onorous task of having to 'read and play'.
I've come to the conclusion that it's a form of cognitive overload, that of visually tracking the score, analysing and assimilating it in real time and then if that isn't enough to contend with, then to play alongside those ongoing tasks. The playing itself e.g. fingering, tempo and dynamics etc are also a challenge in themselves.
So by 'memorising' the score, or more challenging parts of a score, this enables or frees up my mind (cognitive capacity) so that I can enjoy playing the score without the frustrating process I find it can be.
That’s a perfectly valid approach if one doesn’t want to sight read or to improve sight reading skills. Obviously the video is in response to the many people asking for advice in relation to wanting to build their sight reading capacity.
Please make some videos on time signature simple and compound time and how to count .
Thanks, we have some on the channel you can find linked below and also some more on the way.
Simple & Compound Time Signatures: ruclips.net/video/qi6uuhU1unk/видео.html
How to Tell if Music is in Simple Time or Compound Time: ruclips.net/video/UqJxXH2voMI/видео.html
Good lesson.
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Perfect 🤝🏽
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Tutorial very valuable and interesting, just a beginer want to train my voice so l can sing.
That’s great.
Drummers are probably the least likely to study the music as written. Trust me, though, it really really helps to write out your own tabs. Lots of online tabs are wrong. Different versions of a song (e.g., official music video vs album) are the bane of drummers. And if your kit has significant differences to the original drummer's (e.g., double bass kit vs single bass kit) your brain has to convert what to do anyway - might as well write it down. The write it out tip is really good, and especially, I want to say, for those least likely to use it: drummers.
Very good point
I actually started memorizing music as a kid in MARCHING band due to NECESSITY
of not stepping in POO during parades :-P
I also a guitar player in bands. We practice A LOT..due to all the band members has to
memorize their parts. I found it EASIER with a SINGER becuase I use WORDs in songs
to help guide me play different parts/phrasing in songs...aside from drummer's clash/cymble to help me keep track.
i also learn how to play the drum SET..which require me to keep count and use EVERY part of my body..I can actually toss , Twirl, and catch the sticks during songs.
I drop the sticks MILLIONS of times before I got the hang of it. LOTS of practice.
I also LEARN how to SING and play the guitar at the sametime....
which require me to memorize the words and music to thousands of songs.
I also used to get paid the bucks. All my bosses wanted to drill/grill my brain
for data. I was their information center back in the days. I was the guy that data
input all the data into the PC..i also assigned data/code. i used to be able to tell
you every nut/bolts/system in a 10 story power plant. later I got into electronics
manufacturing. I was the manager..i can tell you every parts from thousands
of different assembly from the top of my head...It required alot of READING, STUDYING
and COMPREHENSION.
I dont believe Im super smart. I'm truly AMAZE at the human's BRAIN and what it can
do...if you USE it.
Some great reflections. I love the importance of memory to avoid stepping in poo!
Good life-learning skills as well.
Absolutely true.
I think it is best to approach solo repertoire by actually starting with memorization, once you are able to play a piece (or a portion thereof) slowly and accurately. The reiteration at a slow tempo while memorizing helps solidify the technical foundation; it is best if you start with the most difficult passages. And it breaks altogether that dependence on the score that makes memorization difficult when it comes in as the last rather than the first stage of learning a piece.
That’s a good plan that works for many. Much depends on whether one is naturally a reader or a memoriser as the first port of call.
this was good. I did not hear anything I did not know, but the reinforcement is nice. I am legally blind and reading music, or in my case, lead sheets with lyrics and chords (my music ia a little more low brow than whay we are discussing here) is not an option. It is either memorize or just do not play. Lyrics are my problem because most of the stuff I play have a fairly simple music structure.
I have taught a number of blind students. They have all been fantastic memorisers. As you say, there is no choice. Fantastic that blind people can work with sound
What messes me up in memory singing is when I have to sing a couple of songs that I do know and remember and then right after I have to sing a third song that I is new to me from memory. Very tuff.
Tricky one
It's very good job.
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Here're some lyrics to Debussy's Reverie, in ABRSM Grade VIII - illustrating Gareth's teaching point:
Poor Claud,
With his head in the clouds in Paris (Par-ee)
Forming symbols in the score.
Meanwhile, in the mix of composers
And the pride of performers
Pushing back from the press of traditional French form.
( | 18)
Magic, an impressionist colour and tone
There’s no precedent
And no parallel
Such sublime sound
Taking ever high ground
Though tradition is strong
And the rhythm seems wrong
And envy wins.
( | 33)
Skill, gift, and grit all are so prominent
shade, colour, tone sing forth so dominant
sheer beauty displayed
And new standards unfurled
Bringing joy to the Muse
And to the world
( | 49)
Feel the measure, count the beats
Sense the pleasure, praise such feats
2-3 timings, hard to master
Gentle tempo, shun the faster.
Leisured counting’s sure descent
Like a spiral half meant
Meanwhile genius flaunts the progress
Of obsessive subtle nuance.
Feel the measure, count the beats
Sense the pleasure, praise such feats
of gentle somnolescent states
Fresh new paths.
( | 72)
Poor Claud,
With his head in the clouds in Paris
What great symbols in the score!?
No one, in the mix of composers
And the pride of performers
Can retreat to the corners
Of the ship of . . . .
Feel the measure, count the beats
Sense the pleasure, praise such feats
of gentle somnolescent owning
Transformed structure, toning home.........
( | 97)
Tremendous!
thank you
14:01 top five night reasons .. .
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Thanks!
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I memorize easily. And I forget very easily too. And that is the problem. I forget faster than I would like to, unless I play the piece everyday.
Repetition is important to deepen memory.
Good tips, but I find doing it slow, slow and even slower helps to memorize it like nothing else.
True
Also, I use 'Fourscore' on my Tablet with a foot pedal to change the page. Any suggestions to help coordinate this effort??
Good idea. You soon get good at coordinating
human nature - you nailed it :)
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So, here's a weird thing. I'm learning piano and saxophone. Everything I've learned (using sheet music) on piano, I can play from memory (till it starts to fade). But I can only vaguely remember sax tunes, and then mostly if they're songs. But even sax phrases take a lot more work to get to stick than piono phrases.
Sometimes the harmony helps the memory process
Same here. I don’t have much of a problem memorizing piano tunes and almost no trouble at all with guitar. But with sax, which I just took up earlier this year, I’m having a terrible time. My dominant memory technique is motor memory - finger patterns - so one would think that it would be easy on the sax.
That suggests that your memory is assisted by having the harmonic framework.
God did I need this video. Thank you.
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I couldn’t play anything without memorizing. Memorizing is how I learn a piece, perhaps because I read music so very slowly that I basically have it stored in my long-term memory by the time I have figured out how to play it 😂. (I started playing piano one year ago, at the age of 63). One thing I have learned to be vigilant about: When you think you have a piece memorized, you very likely have missed something. So, as Gareth points out, if precision matters to you, don’t put the score away too early in in the memorizing process.
Very true.
It's funny seeing Gareth level up his thumbnail meme face game.
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I have a cinematographic memory; i.e. I can remember short dialogues between people, and I remember short snippets of my life (10 seconds long at the most), but remembering music in detail is really hard for me. I've been studying many years at the Uni. but never been good at remembering details. One of the few pieces I remmebr is Liszt's 1st Consolation, it is short and once when I was 21. I was asked (on the spot) to play something at a wedding dinner, and that was only rhing I could play from memory.
Some people find memory for music very difficult especially if they are good readers.
@@MusicMattersGB I am really good at prima vista-playing, but that's it. As a composer, I start to think abour chord progressions and chord inversions. Not good for memorising apparently....
Actually that can really assist memory.
@@MusicMattersGB I agree in theory, but not for me.
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'Muscle memory' is metaphor it would be more useful to talk about where your fingers go. Second, talk about structure ignores chord progressions
"Classical" method does too. But most players want to play music outside the classical repertoire, and learn memory playing far quicker by understanding chord progression and structure.
Absolutely. Chord progression, melodic progression, structure all belongs to the muscle memory concept.
I think I'm somewhere between analysis and motor memory. I'm also terrible for annotating the score in pencil.
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So many of these YT presentations about this subject but to date I haven't seen a single application of these suggestions.
By this I mean all we have is the 'theory', so to speak, but no practical demonstration of it.
For example, this tutor could take a novice student and/or someone at Grade 3 to 5+ and make a presentation of those students trying to apply these techniques to a new piece of music.
All this would enhance the learning experience.
I’d love to do that. Unfortunately there are a number of practical reasons why this isn’t possible. A good number of people have told us that they have found the advice helpful in improving their sight reading skills so in that sense the video serves its purpose.
@@MusicMattersGB I understand the impracticality of it with smaller studios.
However, it would be interesting to see it put into practice where there's a wider more plentiful supply of students willing to act as examples.
I've thought about making my own demonstration of it, though of course nowhere near the professional and competence level that you operate at, to say the least!
Else, again, I can understand the constraints on logistics but what a shame when so much else is given the time and space to be demonstrated at the practical level.
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How can you learn a piece without memorizing it? At least for me I can't read music fast enough to play it smoothly while reading. I have to memorize it and throw away (not literally) the music. Then I can play it smoothly.
It’s possible to read and learn or to memorise and learn. It’s often the case that musicians are either primarily readers or memorisers.
Hi. I have a problem with the piano when I want to perform in front of someone at the piano I get stuck :( As if my brain freezes, what can I do to prevent this from happening?
Thanks and sorry for the English :)
See our video on dealing with nerves.
@@MusicMattersGB Can I link? You have a lot of videos ...
Here it is: ruclips.net/video/32d3APsFdNI/видео.html
One should realise that reading notes is an intelectual skill. In second instance it can become an artistic skill when you are more developed.. Playing by ear is an art iself.
All true.
I’m able to play from memories but as I’m doing that, I can’t follow the score. I can’t read while really playing lol. I admire people who can read and play at the same time
Keep working at it. It will come
"Most people don't need to memorise"
Every jazz/blues/pop/rock/folk musician: "Uhm..."
Arguably even they don’t NEED to memorise
@@MusicMattersGB well, there's no technical reason to of course, but while I have been known to tape the odd chord chart to the stage where I can glance down at it - especially for tricksy jazzy changes, the convention is certainly that everything is memorised and for popular genres having music stands out would be seen as decidedly uncool! The exception seems to be for keyboardists who can get away with a chart.
Good video though - one thing that I find interesting is that recall of memorised pieces seams to be context sensitive. Things that you might struggle to remember playing solo simply jump back into your fingers when playing in context with the rest of the band/ensemble etc.
@nstrug That’s absolutely true
But I notice this lessons not from memory. I was told many years ago that my ability to read music was going to get in my way with playing classical guitar from memory. He was correct.
It’s true that good readers are often less natural memorisers.
Idea to try: learn a piece with the notes, then write out bits of each phrase, reducing the whole thing to a skeleton. Take away even more notes from your „notes“ and see how much you can still play. I have t admit I have not tried this method yet, as most of the stuff I learn is no more than 40-50 bars.
And on another point: whenyou play blues ( and jazz) you work from a skeleton of harmony, often improving or enhancing - or dehancing - as you go.
Good ideas
I think all points covered
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My question is do you memorize by measure ,memorize the fingering as well?
That’s one way of doing it. Memorising fingering certainly helps to memorise patterns of notes. You might prefer to tackle it phrase by phrase
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