Klarinet Archive - Posting 000150.txt from 2002/04

From: Glen Shannon <gshannon@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] memorization
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 15:06:53 -0500

I think with piano you have to become familiar with the finger
stretch so that when you see an octave or some other interval your
fingers know how much to stretch to get that, without you having to
look down. I can't do it- at one time I could play all of Bach's
keyboard concerti (it's amazing what progress one makes when spending
hours avoiding studying in college!) from start to finish, but I had
to memorize them because I couldn't look away from the keyboard. If I
made a mistake I had to start over again from the beginning, I
couldn't just pick up where I left off. I also took no lessons so I'm
sure I had incredibly bad habits and made bad fingering decisions.
-Glen

>Perhaps not appropriate for this group, but here's a question-- I
>have played (serious classical) clarinet as a hobby for 41 years
>(with NO down time!) and can play it now as easily as I can speak.
>Three months ago I took up the piano, something I always wanted to
>do. I find that I MUST memorize the little piano pieces I am asked
>to play, because I CAN'T properly read the piano music and play at
>the same time! I believe it has something to do with the two lines
>of music at the same time or my eye-PIANO coordination. Is it
>normal for piano players to memorize their music? Or is it because
>I am such a rank beginner at the piano?
>
>Fred
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------

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