Juggling Concerti

I am working on two concerti right now and have been thinking a lot about memorization. So that I’ll feel my best on stage, I like to memorize using a multi-layer approach for deep learning. Here are the approaches that I include in my preparation:

Here is my “road map” for the Rondeau from Mozart Concerto No. 5 in A Major

Aural – Perhaps the most intuitive, remembering and recreating the sounds. We call on this when we sing back a theme or passage.

Physical – Good old muscle memory. I find this comes naturally with various repetitions.

Analytical – Reinforces aural and physical memory. There are so many possibilities here. I make sure I know: keys, tonal progressions, positions for shifts, fingerings, bowings, etc. I like to announce these 📣 OUT LOUD 📣 as I practice without looking at the music.

Analytical Extra Credit – Write out challenging passages from memory (in my experience, very useful for solo Bach Fugues!) to make sure you know each and every note and can go back to fill in any gaps. 📍Create a roadmap that includes harmonic, structural, and memory mile markers.

Emotional – Characters, colors, and feelings. Expression makes the music and helps support memorization. I often add emotional cues to my roadmaps.

Visualization – I find requires the deepest knowledge of a piece and the most focus. Can you “play through” the entire passage/movement/piece in your head, “hearing,” “feeling,” and recalling all of your analytic cues without physical sound or movement?

These techniques take time, focus, and energy but bring a big reward. Thorough and multi-layered preparation helps support a more comfortable and confident performance.