The Four Stages of Memorization
Tags: how to memorize music, how to practice music, memorization, mental practice, mental rehearsal, music performance, music practice, musical perception, repetition, visualization
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
