tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181744309080861233.post5758483317143324597..comments2024-01-12T00:48:55.192-08:00Comments on Music and Brain Blog at University of Toronto: Performance and memorizationLee Bartelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06727468225852676801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181744309080861233.post-82556646255390416692009-12-17T20:01:28.597-08:002009-12-17T20:01:28.597-08:00I am always interested in reading and learning abo...I am always interested in reading and learning about ways of practising or memorizing more efficiently. As musicians, the tasks we require of our minds and bodies are pretty remarkable. Most of our instruments demand of us tremendous accuracy, requiring tiny movements and complex combinations of unrelated motions. Any way to learn these tasks more efficiently is much appreciated!<br />I can relate to the ‘Ten Times Rule.’ Our bodies indeed learn by repetition, whether of the desired outcome or of an undesired one. I remember as a young piano student becoming so determined to NOT make the same mistake again, that I was actually focusing all my attention on the mistake and not on the simple, correct alternative. My teacher was quick to point out that we can easily fall into the trap of overworking by trying hard to avoid something, rather than simply starting afresh with a new pattern. Of course this idea applies more easily to some situations than others, but I suspect the idea of dwelling on a frequent mistake is very rarely beneficial.Linneahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08600598654690672234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7181744309080861233.post-69725144725993781592009-12-17T19:23:08.341-08:002009-12-17T19:23:08.341-08:00There are a few notable percussionists who also su...There are a few notable percussionists who also subscribe to the "Ten Times" theory; they swear by its success, and demand that all of their students do the same. While I certainly don't want to criticize anyone for practising, I did want to mention that I think there's room for a caveat or two. For example, if one were to learn an entire piano sonata, would they have to play the WHOLE sonata perfectly ten times, or just certain "problem sections?" Furthermore, you can play something accurately, but what about dynamics, phrasing, and expressivity? Do you need to map all of those things out to the finest detail and execute them ten times as well, or (as I believe) can you successfully "wing it" to a certain degree? Granted, the merits of reptition are obvious, but at this point are we treating ourselves like learned musicians, or dogs learning tricks?Brian Graiserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13868975995899615827noreply@blogger.com