Student can’t remember patterns of older songs
Found in: Playing-Based Methodology
Heidi M., Canada
I need some advice and feedback regarding one of my adult students who is at the start of Foundation 3. His playlist is pretty solid but he sometimes has difficulty remembering the patterns of the old songs though he can play them fine. I have noticed this when I point out that part of a new song has inherited a pattern (or something similar) from an older SM song. Is that normal or not?
I have talked with him about the patterns and asked him to explain them when he learns a new song, but I am starting to be concerned I did not do it enough. Perhaps when I do playlist review I should ask him more often to explain the patterns, not just hage him play the song. He has traditional music background (guitar) so maybe this is a factor.
Jacqui G., Canada
If he can play them fine, that means they’re in his brain, so no worries. Instead of pointing it out to him, try playing the song and asking him if he notices anything familiar.
Joanne D., Australia
I have students like this who I think let their ear lead them to how to play, or they have memorized the song and not the pattern or absorbed the learning clue. Perhaps moving the pattern to a new position (transpose the song). To do this they would need to know the pattern well. Also more keypad practice could help.
Amy L., California
How about reviewing the diagrams from the Reference book as part of his practice routine?
Kerry V., Australia
When my students do this, I have them practice without sound. This helps take away another’step’ in the thinking and allows more ‘space’ for the brain to take in what is happening in the fingers. Practice pads are an underutilized tool.
Laurie Richards, Nebraska
I don’t think this is unusual; some people make connections like that more easily than others. It’s always interesting to me to see what happens when a concept previously learned is introduced in a different context. For example, when processing the black-key major chords in a different context than Danny Boy in Accompaniment 1, it’s not unusual for younger students to draw a blank.
Marsha L., Virginia
I can relate to this man because this always happens to me. Even before SM, I used patterns and shapes to help me learn and memorize songs initially, but once they were in my muscle memory, I would forget how I learned them in the first place because they just became a part of me. Even though I can play the Foundation 1 songs in my sleep, I have to review the videos before I teach my family so I can remember what the diagrams mean and show them the patterns.