Playing the saxophone 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]

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.

 

[Pete Thomas]

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.

Identifying any patterns within a melody is probably the first and most useful thing you can do. Also one of the easiest. It can mean the difference between learning 8 bars and two bars.

 

[Veggie Dave]

Regarding playing without a score, someone once told me 'if you can't sing it, you can't play it.'

Turned out to be absolutely right.

 

[Nick Wyver]

I can forget stuff far more easily than I can remember it.

 

[Pete Thomas]

I can forget stuff far more easily than I can remember it.

Can you give us some tips on how you forget stuff. My current earworm is Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious.

Um diddle, diddle diddle, um diddle ay

 

[Jimmymack]

That a really useful word if you do Wordiply on the Guardian.

I’ve had ‘I can’t do my bally bottom button up’ in my head for two days.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Wakey wake oh.

 

[Targa]

That a really useful word if you do Wordiply on the Guardian.

I’ve had ‘I can’t do my bally bottom button up’ in my head for two days.

If the button in question is that of the waistcoat it never should be fastened.

 

[Colin the Bear]

Bottom belly button.

 

[Targa]

Bottom belly button.

That would suggest more than one belly button.
Were you some kind of weird twin?

 

[Colin the Bear]

No twin but weird enough for two.

 

[Vlad]

My current earworm is Sypercalifragilisticexpialodocious.

Um diddle, diddle diddle, um diddle ay

Yeah thanks, I've got it now 😡

 

[Pete Thomas]

Yeah thanks, I've got it now 😡

Your're welcome. I apologise from the heart of my bottom. Maybe passing it on is the best remedy?

Um diddle, diddle diddle, um diddle ay

 

[Vlad]

As regards playing from memory, how the song goes, ie the words / lyrics are what I always keep in mind

 

[cappers]

Your're welcome. I apologise from the heart of my bottom. Maybe passing it on is the best remedy?

Um diddle, diddle diddle, um diddle ay

.....
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
All day long, I'd biddy biddy bum
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
If I were a biddy biddy rich yidle-diddle-didle-didle man

 

[Wade Cornell]

Good advice from Veggie Dave. It's music. If you can't hear it and every note you play is either read or memorizing the order of which fingers to press, then how are you playing music? May as well be sprockets in a music box.

OK, it's one thing to be reading a piece that you've never heard (much less played), but if you're playing tunes you could sing, then it's time to try to start getting your hands to sync with what you could sing. The goal is for you to be involved... make the music come from you. If you can't hear what you should be playing and it's strictly an eye to hand exercise or memory of which fingers to push... where are you in this context as the player?

It won't be happening instantly, even if you get the concept, yet it is something to strive towards and (IMHO) the essence of what playing music should be about.