I love playing from memory whenever I play a concert. That was not the case initially because it adds to the stress level even when I am accustomed to it now. However, it also contributes to the quality of the performance.
Do you feel apprehensive when you play your pieces from memory?
I did not love playing from memory in the beginning stages of my schooling.
After my first university recital, a friend told me he would have loved to see me plant my cello on stage and play the entire program from memory. Yes, I did not play my program from memory in that recital as I was nervous about blanking out.
After competing and gaining experience, I learned the joy of playing my pieces from memory. Chamber music pieces are played chiefly with music. However, solo pieces like concertos, when played from memory, provide much more freedom to the player.
What does memorizing a piece allow a musician to do? It will enable them to concentrate more on the musical aspect instead of being bogged down in the manuscript. That way, they can better listen closely to their tone quality and sound. It is difficult to do so when a player is buried in the notes and reading the music.
And even though I have always felt anxious about losing my place while playing without the music, I have always remembered all parts during a performance. Once, however, I was so nervous about a concert that as I waited to go out on stage, I began questioning my memory of a particular piece. I took out the music, looked at the notes, and confirmed that I knew everything. There were no problems during my performance. Therefore, staying calm and grounded in positive thoughts is essential before one's recital.
How does a musician memorize their pieces? For one thing, the repetition during practice hours immensely contributes to the memorization process. It is almost impossible not to have a piece of music memorized if the player has practiced and worked out their part diligently. It is similar to when we hear a song played on the radio so often that we can't help but memorize its lyrics.
What happens when there are sections when the musician still misses and or forgets? Again, repetition is critical. One time, my daughter had to memorize a piece for a competition. We paid close attention to the parts she had trouble remembering and repeated those sections until they became part of her.
Therefore, next time you must perform a piece, try to play it from memory. It might feel awkward the first few times, but in time, you will find it more accessible and easier to do so.
Do you play your pieces from memory? How do you feel when you do that? And do you have a particular strategy you use on stage?
Please share with us in the comments below.
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