tips on remembering arrangements

Subsequent to Unmani M.’s post regarding “Shoo-fly” arrangement from Arrangements 3 (originally taught in Level 5), I thought I’d take a moment to revive a discussion from more than a DECADE ago about the fact that Shoo-fly is a BLUES piece 😎. For reference you…

• Last updated 6 months ago
• 12 Bar blues, alternate ending, arr, arrangement, arrangement names, arrangements, arrangements 3, blues, blues chords, blues harmony, blues songs, blues turnaround, ending, FL5, Foundation 5, foundation level 5, Foundation levels, foundation pieces, Foundation sheet music, Foundation songs, learning arrangements, reading arrangements, remembering arrangements, retaining arrangements, shoo-fly, structure, teacher preparation for arrangements, Teaching Arrangements, tips on remembering arrangements, unfolding arrangements in class, using music in learning arrangements

I think sometimes students do mindless repetition for practice without breaking it down in such a way that the brain retains the piece. I had a student today who struggles with remembering her pieces so we just slowly went through a series of questions and…

• Last updated 2 years ago
• aural cues, bad memory, cognitive understanding, conscious learning, deliberate practice, key names, key naming, LAWOL, learning, learning a new way of learning, learning a way of learning, learning from SHMs, learning from video, learning note names, learning strategies, learning tools, learning tools and strategies, listing learning tools and strategies, memorization, memorizing, memorizing harder pieces, memorizing pieces, memorizing songs, memory, memory issues, memory muscle, memory problem, mindfulness, muscle memory, naming keys, naming notes, naming the keys, note names, note naming, overcoming memory problems, playing-based strategies, playing-based tools, remember, remembering, remembering arrangements, remembering patterns, remembering variations, single thought process, single thought processes, STP, strategies, tips on remembering arrangements, tool, tools, tools and strategies

Knowing that variations and arrangements are primarily memory exercises and secondarily exposure to different performance techniques and only after these things pieces for the repertoire, and if students forget them, it’s on some level “okay” in a way that is not true of Foundation pieces,…

• Last updated 12 years ago
• forgetting arrangements, Laurie Richards, memory, requirements in lessons, self-generation, student mentors, students who forget, tips on remembering arrangements, variations