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Should Soloists Always Perform from Memory?

Gerald Klickstein January 14, 2013 memorization, music performance, performance anxiety 11 Comments

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Andre Watts performs from memory with the Atlanta Symphony

“Performing from memory can be a beautiful thing.”
–The Musician’s Way, p. 82

As someone who has performed countless solos, I know the upsides and downsides of playing with and without a score.

We musicians often hash over the issue of whether to memorize or not, and pianist Stephen Hough thoughtfully examined the pros and cons in a 2011 article in The Guardian. Continue Reading

The Four Stages of Memorization

Gerald Klickstein May 08, 2010 memorization, music practice, The Musician's Way 5 Comments

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Andre Watts

“I’m very mistrustful of tactile memory.
I think it’s the first thing that goes.”
–André Watts, pianist (The Musician’s Way, p. 82)

Have you ever been blindsided by a memory lapse? Maybe you felt secure in practice, but, during a performance, you blanked on a passage.

I suspect that every musician has felt the jolt of memory slips.

I also believe that memory glitches could be far less common because secure memorization involves concepts and skills that any musician can learn.

This post summarizes a 4-part framework that helps both singers and instrumentalists become masterful memorizers. Continue Reading

“Memories are Made of This” Published in The Strad

Gerald Klickstein September 26, 2009 memorization No Comments

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The October 2009 issue of the UK monthly The Strad features an article I wrote about memorization titled “Memories are Made of This.”

I was invited to contribute to the magazine by its editor, Ariane Todes, after she attended a lecture I gave on the subject of memorization at the 2009 conference of the American String Teachers Association in Atlanta. Continue Reading