Playing Piano from Memory

Playing from memory is a skill that can easily be developed. The essential elements are a strong, clear-cut impression; varied associations that set up related ideas (visual, aural, muscular impressions; analysis of form and harmony, etc.); repetition; and a formula or cue which will bring recall, such as the title of the piece, name of the composer, opus number, or key phrases of the piece.

Music memory is complex. with many people memory is largely visual; some remember better with aural impressions, while others remember a composition with their fingers, i.e. muscle memory. The student's natural memory tendencies should be developed by the piano teacher, while at the same time the other types of memory should be cultivated so that every possible association can contribute to the accuracy and retentiveness of the student's memory. No composition is fully memorized until the pianist can actually hear it in his imagination.

To develop the skill of playing from memory, start the student with small pieces. As his proficiency develops, build out toward larger pieces. Have the student memorize stanzas and then sections and then movements of the composition, memorizing each and building upon the prior memorized sections. By following this process, the student will have memorized the entire work in easily managed portions.

For information about piano lessons NJ, contact Barbara Ehrlich Piano Studio.