> I've always been curious about the aspect of memorization in lute music. >In this paragraph Gallot seems to suggest it. Baron advises to memorize in >the beginning stages of learning, but then goes on to say he's not >recommending it ( don't have the book handy). > Sterling Price, has visited a few times, and I was shocked, at how well >he can sight read, and says this is what everyone does. Up to that point, I >had two, and working on three, Weiss Sonatas completely memorized. > > This for me, not being a professional performer, was allot of RAM to >store. Since that time I have been only sight reading, but then this seems >to have it's own short comings as well. Is there a middle ground. > Could this aspect of memorization be a result of the lute being frozen in >time, whilst the rest of the musical world went on to fancy memorization ? >Michael Thames
Robert Barto told me he tends to memorize when learning a piece. I think this is the best approach. After you learn a piece you can go on to really memorize it or play from tab, where the tab just reminds you of how it goes. One of the biggest mistakes people make, according to a video I watched about memorization, is that they work on too large a chunk at one time. When I'm learning a piece, I find that I should just work on a phrase and get it in my ear and fingers and concentrate on playing lightly and musically. This means taking a small enough chunk and playing it by memory while I look at my fingers and analyze what is going on. It's hard work. It is much easier to sight read. I find practicing in this way takes a tremendous amount of self discipline. I'm not saying that this is the correct way to practice. I'm just saying that, for me, I know I should do it this way because I tend to damage my hands if I get caught up in sight reading. It is so easy to get lost in a suite and then when you finish, realize you've been playing for an hour without a break. my 2 ¥ -- Ed Durbrow Saitama, Japan http://www9.plala.or.jp/edurbrow/ To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
