Playing Hub

Technique: Memory and mental practice

2020-11-10T02:40:00

Exercise1

Techniques to help you learn music off by heart and protect against memory slips

Memorisation can be a bit like old Christmas lights on a series circuit: if one bulb goes, all the lights go out. When you always do memory work with the instrument in your hands, you train yourself to need very specific audio and sensory clues to get from phrase to phrase. This means that an unexpected note or distraction in phrase A can destroy a cue for phrase B, resulting in a memory slip. Using audiation and kinaesthetic representation to reproduce musical sounds and feelings in your mind, in different ways and in varied settings, will make your memory more secure, no matter what happens on stage…

Already subscribed? Please sign in

Subscribe to continue reading…

We’re delighted that you are enjoying our website. For a limited period, you can try an online subscription to The Strad completely free of charge.

  • Free 7-day trial

    Not sure about subscribing? Sign up now to read this article in full and you’ll also receive unlimited access to premium online content, including the digital edition and online archive for 7 days.

    Free trial

    No strings attached – we won’t ask for your card details

  • Subscribe - online subscriptions from £4.50/month

    No more paywalls. To enjoy the best in-depth features and analysis from The Strad’s latest and past issues, upgrade to a subscription now. You’ll also enjoy regular issues and special supplements* and access to an online archive of issues back to 2010.

    Subscribe

 

* Issues and supplements are available as both print and digital editions. Online subscribers will only receive access to the digital versions.