Klarinet Archive - Posting 000971.txt from 1998/08

From: "L. BORCHERT" <lborcher@-----.Edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Woodshedding, was Memorization
Date: Mon, 31 Aug 1998 19:30:13 -0400

Your advice on memorization could also be good advice for how to
practice, but I would make one rather large change. Instead of starting
at the beginning, start at the end and add one measure at a time. Instead
of reinforcing mistakes by playing until you make a mistake, you are
positively reinforcing the correct patterns and playing toward a musical
conclusion. Psychologically, this is a more effective way to both
practice and memorize.
See Frank R. Wilson's book _Tone Deaf And All Thumbs_, published
by Vintage Books. Dr. Wilson is an M.D. specializing in music neurology.
This should be a required text in education classes in general and music
education classes in particular. Does anybody else remember his lecture
presentation at the clarinet convention in Richmond, VA at Virginia
Commonwealth a few years ago?

Laroy

Dr. Laroy Borchert
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, NM 88003

On Mon, 31 Aug 1998, Rey Trajano wrote:

> Here's my (almost) guaranteed, although tedious, method for memorizing ANY
> piece of music you need to for band or anything else.
>
> Start by playing the first measure of music. Then, play it again. Then,
> play it again and again and again. Ten or more times usually is enough.
> Now that you've thoroughly familiarized yourself with that measure, close
> your eyes ( or turn the music over )and try to play it. If you can't play
> it with your eyes closed (or music turned over), look at the music again and
> play the measure ten more times. On the other hand, if you are able to play
> that measure reasonably well, then play it ten more times without looking at
> the music.
>
> Now comes the really tedious part. Now that you've memorized the first
> measure, look at the music again. Add one measure to what you have been
> playing, e.g. if you've been playing one measure play 2, or if you've been
> playing 3 measure play 4, etc... Then, with the new set of measures, which
> is just what you have been playing plus one more measure, repeat ALL of the
> steps above except substitute your current number of measures for the first
> measure. Keep adding another measure and repeating all of the steps until
> the whole march or piece is memorized.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------