Klarinet Archive - Posting 000161.txt from 2002/04

From: "Tim Roberts" <timr@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] memorization
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 17:30:40 -0500

On Wed, 03 Apr 2002 14:49:20 -0500, "fred.sheim" <fred.sheim@-----.net>
wrote:
>
>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?

Are you doing this because you aren't yet able to grasp an entire chord at
once, or are you doing this because you are watching your fingers?

If you are watching your fingers, that is a very bad habit that you should
strive to eliminate. Of course, when you are just starting, a certain amount
of that is required, but you should work quickly toward a point where your
fingers know where they are without watching them.

If you are just having trouble scanning a chord at once, or scanning both bass
clef and treble clef together, that will come with time. One thing that helps
is to recognize that most piano music is extremely regular. If you are in the
key of C, then your left hand will probably be doing mostly notes from the C,
F, and G chords.

This comment does NOT apply to the Rhapsody in Blue...

--
- Tim Roberts, timr@-----.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.

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