Playing from memory

[Nick Cook]

I've been playing/practising the Pink Panther theme for some time now, but always play from the music. I thought I'd have a go at playing from memory last night. It was quite hard, but I did eventually get it, but I expect I'll have forgotten it again next time I try.

What is it you remember when playing from memory? Is it the tune, notes, fingerings...?

For me, it was the fingerings I was remembering although I started off trying to visualise the music from the book.

 

[Josh Johnson]

Try getting the chords to the tune and then learning the arpeggios to each chord. When you have memorized them, try to relate the melody line to where the notes of the arpeggio are, you'll probably find that there are a lot of the notes from the arpeggios in the melody.

Mancini used a lot of chromatic leading notes in the Pink Panther, so there are a lot of half tone intervals (first two notes: F#, G).

Yep, relate the melody notes to the arpeggios.

 

[Linky Lee]

When I memorize something I remember the pattern and rhythm of the melody. Then if you can remember the starting note you can play it fine. It also enables you to transpose it quickly and quite efficiently.

 

[half diminished]

I've been playing/practising the Pink Panther theme for some time now, but always play from the music. I thought I'd have a go at playing from memory last night. It was quite hard, but I did eventually get it, but I expect I'll have forgotten it again next time I try.

What is it you remember when playing from memory? Is it the tune, notes, fingerings...?

For me, it was the fingerings I was remembering although I started off trying to visualise the music from the book.

For me I think it is mostly the tune and/or phrases, and I know I get a 'feel' for the fingering on some of the faster or more difficult phrases which I tend to practice with the music initially. I know its not the fingering on its own as I have tried to finger tunes without any sound and it doesn't work for me at all.

Things I have found hard to play 'with the music' due to difficult fingering or fast fingering are always easier when I am not trying to read the phrase - once I've learned it.

Also the 'sound' of the intervals which I am trying to use to allow me to then play the tune in other keys. I started this with things like 'happy birthday' but am now doing so with proper tunes like 'My Favourite Things'. It is hard though.

I've been working with my teacher on this and also with my improvised solos which I have been doing part by ear (just play it first to hear the 'sound') and also writing the notation and trying to stick to say just vertical or just horizontal improvising. I've been amazed at how much I can remember and how much easier it is becoming to 'ad lib' during recall - hey that's nearly proper improvisation!

The more I do it the easier it is getting to remember. I have also started carrying a little notebook to write down any 'riffs' I hear that I like the sound of. Again, the more I do this the easier I am finding it.

Transcribing from solos is helping too, though again I find this very hard.

What I would say though is I never visualise the music but the more I sight read, the more I am beginning to recognise patterns - scalar, arpeggios, and chromatic movement, repeats of phrases and those that have moved up/down by a semi-tone, tone, etc.

 

[kiwi simon]

Hi Nick

I wrote down a short '5 Step' approach I use here:
Memorise 10 tunes

Simon

 

[half diminished]

Hi Nick

I wrote down a short '5 Step' approach I use here:
Memorise 10 tunes

Simon

Hey, thought you gone back down under! Good to see you back.

 

[kiwi simon]

Thanks mate. I see I'm a 'newbie' here again ... took me a while to figure out Pete's new fangled site (heheh)
Simon

Hey, thought you gone back down under! Good to see you back.

 

[Nick Cook]

Hi Nick

I wrote down a short '5 Step' approach I use here:
Memorise 10 tunes

Simon

Thanks for that Simon. I have the Aebersold No. 54 and have just ordered Take 5 from saxsolos.com. So will start with those!!