Set Your Memory in Stone

Yesterday I got a question about memory from a gal set to play the last movement of Lalo’s ‘Symphonie Espagnole’, no small accomplishment. And by the way, it’s not just any performance, it’s her violin jury at school.

But there’s a problem.

It seems she has difficulty remembering music when playing in front of others. Says she’s fine in the practice room, but loses it rather badly when there’re live bodies about.

I know she’s not alone.

In my early days my memory failings were almost legendary, at least to me. Every performance felt marred, to the point I left off playing from memory completely for several years. I just wouldn’t do it.

Is there any shame in that? No, I can’t say there is, really. But yet, at the end of the day I wanted to taste the feeling of freedom I knew accompanied the ABSENCE of a music stand. And I couldn’t help feeling a little silly playing well-traveled concerti with the music in front of me.

So I began turning my fear around. I made it my counselor and not my enemy. I used it to inform the process. I invited it into the practice room with me and I competed against it.

As a result I began to learn How to memorize for the first time. No more rote playing for me. I made myself see the music as I played, every note of it.

And while I saw it and played it I counted it, and I breathed relaxation into it.

And then finally, when I felt ready for the ultimate test, I brought an imaginary audience into the room and tested my visual/sensual/auditory memory against them.

Those audience members weren’t just anybody. Heifetz, Milstein and Kreisler were sat down in front of me. And they didn’t leave ‘til I sensed they’d truly Enjoyed what they heard.

You see? If you have a question as to the worth of your music making, you’re very foundation is shaky.

This is how you set memory in stone. Playing through, playing through, and playing through are like building a house of straw. I little blowing wind and you’ve got cow feed.

You’ve got to make it Matter. Matter like your life depends on it.

And in case you think that’s not a very good image, ‘life depending on it.’ One time I asked my father about being afraid in combat, he was in the last ‘Great War.’

He said, ‘Actually I was too busy minding how I was using my gun. Not allowing it to over-heat, not shooting off the tail of the airplane accidentally. That sort of thing. I was too busy to be scared.’

Well, that’s how I feel when I perform for memory. I get myself so busy remembering I don’t room left for nerves.

You can’t pussy-foot around with memory. You must treat it like any other kind of conditioning. You must have technique, and no stone can be left unturned.

By the way, my young friend says she’s saving up for Paganini for Violin Virtuosity. When she gets it she’ll be building the house of her technique out of stone too.

All the best,

Clayton Haslop

P.S. Oh yes, today is Tuesday. On every Tuesday this month I’m reminding folks that 15% of all investments in Violin Master programs go to help parentless kids in Zimbabwe receive the gift of violin study, free. Intermediate players can help others And themselves by joining me a thorough study of the violinists Bible.