How to teach memorization
Many teachers simply say to a student, “Memorize this piece by your next lesson.” Without guidance, students can feel overwhelmed by such a daunting task. Teaching a musician how to memorize music is an important skill.
It wasn’t until I was in college that my private teacher taught me memorization skills. Having these skills throughout high school would have saved me a lot of frustration!
There are 3 methods that your brain and muscles should use to memorize a piece of music:
1. The way that it feels. To practice this method, have students sit and finger the notes (without bowing or plucking). Really concentrate on how it feels. Your muscles will actually memorize the feeling of the shifts and finger patterns.
2. The way that it looks. Students should be able to write out passages of music that they have memorized. I usually don’t have a student write out an entire concerto, but maybe a small passage. Students can also close their eyes and visualize the music. I’ll ask, what happens at the top of the second page?
3. The way that it sounds. Students should be able to sing the entire piece of music. I tell my students that they can practice while in math class by singing through the entire song in their head. (Hey, who hasn’t been bored in math class before?)
By having memorized the music three different ways, students can rely on more than one method. For example, if they forget how a certain passage feels, they can visualize the music in front of them, or sing the melody in their mind. Students that memorize using these three methods (rather than just relying on one or two) are more likely to feel confident performing memorized music.
Topics: Students, Classroom Teachers, Private Teachers, Basic Skills |