I forget. I remember. PART 2.

 

Unfortunately, I can never forget this picture! 

Or this one!

But I'm here today to talk about memorising music.

Thanks go to Rob for introducing the word 'mnemonic'. Memorising music is all about getting it into long term memory and being able to retrieve it. I have been successful and unsuccessful with this process. In my latest attempt (yesterday) I even tried using the mnemonic process. It did help with memorising chord progressions. For example, for A7 Dm7 G7 C, I thought of the strings on a viola. I also had three dominant 7th chords that led into key changes after sections of the piece - D7, A7 and G7. I thought of the word 'dag'. That did help. Then I thought of how I never forget names of family and old friends and how I never forget the times tables I learnt in primary school, yes, that same time when I looked up a girl's skirt. 

I spent half an hour working on an easy piece that just contained a tune, in three different keys, and chords that are not complicated. Obviously repetition plays an important roll. I didn't put much effort into learning my brothers' names. I guess that a lot of repetition was involved but not noticed. When memorising 'Peter' maybe, without much thought, I used a mnemonic for the male organ? 

Okay, this music memorisation thing is still a work in progress. I'll push on with it today.

Maybe there will be a PART 3 to this project?

Maybe Peter will write another post before Christmas?

Time will tell.

Ciao tutti.

Make sure you get your music practice done.