January 1999: On Memorizing - Unit 1: Auditory Memory

There are many different types of memory and it is only by using all of them together that consistent and reliable memorization of a piece can occur. For this unit we will consider the first form.

Let's imagine that you have played a piece for a short while. Very soon you will probably be able to recall it mentally. You know what it "sounds like", you can hear it in your mind. Perhaps you can hum the tune. As you play, you know if the notes are right or wrong and you are able to stop for corrections. This is "Auditory Memory". It is sort of like a tape recorder playing in your head.

Unfortunately, many musicians use only the correcting aspect of auditory memory. They recognize an error, stop, correct it and go on. But there is another way to use this faculty in the process of memorizing. If you know what a piece sounds like why not, as you are playing, anticipate what the next sound should be and play what you hear? To do this you must compare the anticipated note to the sound of the note you have just played. If the next one is going upward, how far up will it be (what interval)? Or how far down? If this sounds a lot like playing by ear, it is! But if you memorize only by what the piece feels like in your hands, or what note names you can remember, etc., etc., you are eliminating your best friend-your ear!

Let's try it out. Choose a short, easy piece that you already know from music (a melody would be easiest). Start to play, then suddenly stop anywhere! Listen in your head to the sound of the next note you want to hear and, without looking at the music, find that sound on your instrument. Make a mental note of exactly what you just played and try to reproduce it again without music. This would be a lot of fun to try in a group using various short, familiar melodies.

Now choose a piece, or a portion of a piece, that you are having trouble playing by memory. Start to play and when you come to a part you "can't remember" ,try listening in your mind and see if you can find the next notes you want by hearing them.

Next month we will look into other styles of memory.

See you next month.

Stephanie

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