Klarinet Archive - Posting 000332.txt from 2002/01

From: POWELLM397@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Performance from memory
Date: Sat, 12 Jan 2002 17:13:48 -0500

Dear Colleagues,
I find playing from memory an interesting subject.

Why play from memory? I think the answer is simple, you can give a better
performance.
We spend so much time on our reeds, set-up, mouthpieces, ligatures, new
clarinets, practise.
So why not put the time into memory work.
Why not to play from memory? Fear. Performance anxiety. What if?

When I was 17 years old I was playing the Crusell Concerto op.5, to Claudio
Abaddo when I went completely blank. I could not remember the next phrase,
even though I had played it many times without memory slips. This was quite a
shock to my system. It happened three times.

I think that it is a bit like when a computer program freezes. Fear and
anxiety can interrupt the flow of information needed.

I am now 38 and continue to play from memory, even though I had a bad
experience, when I have the opportunity. Playing, of course, the Mozart
Clarinet Concerto many times from memory.

My experience of playing from memory is that you have a lot more space in
your mind.
Like any computer, your mind has a limited amount of processing power. Whilst
you are looking at the music, reading it and then thinking how to play it,
you are using up some of your mind resources. When accessing the information
from in your mind it takes less work, therefore leaving you with more time to
express yourself.

I do not think that playing from memory to impress the audience is really the
point.
But what you do find is that without the music you have no barriers between
you and the audience. I know you can't look into the eyes of everyone, as
many are so far away, but you can feel the intimacy of the relationship more.
You play to them.

One of the reasons that pianists play so much from memory is that it is
easier. I am memorising Piano Concerto K414 at the moment. You have so many
extra memory helps. Tactile memory is a lot easier than the clarinet, because
our finger positions overlap so much.
With the piano it is simple, low notes to the left, high notes to the right
; )
You also have a lot of visual memory with the piano, whilst we have none on
the clarinet.
Harmonic cues etc..

One of the things I have noticed whilst teaching children the piano, is that
many of them find it easier to play from memory. But when they forget
something, they have to go all the way back to the beginning. I think it is
useful to practise starting from the beginning of each bar rather than each
section. If you lose it, you can pick it up again quite quickly!

Advice I was given by a friend was that he coped with playing from memory by
not caring whether he has a memory slip or not. The pride of perfectionism
can actually make it unbearable for us to play from memory. What if.
Not of course that we want to make mistakes but we can miss out on
exhilarating performances by the fear of making a mistake.

To sum up, I would advise to practise from memory whether you perform with
the music or not.

Well that's my pennies worth.

Kind regards
Martin Powell.

PS. If any of you are interested Gary Van Cott is selling my CD 'Son et
Lumiere' at:
http://www.vcisinc.com/

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