How to Memorize Piano Music (FOREVER)

‼️If you want to play with accuracy and confidence at the piano...
✅You MUST know how to practice CORRECTLY.
[😱 Most piano players are doing it all wrong.]
🚨Get access to 4 days of FREE PIANO CLASSES in the upcoming Piano Practice Lab where you'll learn exactly how to design a routine that gets you beyond the notes to confident, musical expression.
👉🏼Reserve your FREE seat, replays, and bonuses here: ashleejyoung.com/pianopracticelab
- ‼️ If you want to play with accuracy and confidence at the piano...
✅You MUST know how to practice CORRECTLY.
[😱 Most piano players are doing it all wrong.]
🚨Get access to 4 days of FREE PIANO CLASSES in the upcoming Piano Practice Lab where you'll learn exactly how to design a routine that gets you beyond the notes to confident, musical expression.
👉🏼Reserve your FREE seat, replays, and bonuses here: ashleejyoung.com/pianopracticelab ‼️ The secret sauce behind beautiful and accurate piano playing that no one’s talking about?
✅ Sight reading.
Want to learn how it helps and how to practice it correctly?
👉🏼Get access to a FREE class where you’ll learn that plus more HERE: www.ashleejyoung.com/speedreader ‌Memory is ALWAYS at play…
‌Regardless of if your end goal is completely memorizing a piece.
‌From the moment you decide to learn a piece, your brain is actively working to remember the notes you play, and how you play them.
It’s how you can sit down one day and practice….and then come to the piano the next day and remember what you learned.
And if you’re not actively working on strengthening your memory skills, you’ve likely encountered a situation where you made a mistake and couldn’t find your way back.
You crashed and burned and had to start the piece over.
In today’s tutorial, I explain WHY this happens and I give you 3 steps to follow to ensure that it doesn’t happen anymore.
Regardless of if you’re trying to memorize your piece or not.‌
[And yes teachers, this will also work for your students!]
🎹 Don’t miss out on a FREE opportunity to be a part of an incredible community of piano players and learn more techniques to help you practice smarter not harder - JOIN FOR FREE! / casualtoconfidentpiano...
👀 Don’t forget to watch these other videos:
How to Memorize Piano Music
• How to Memorize Piano ...
Why You Should Memorize Your Piano Music
• Why You Should Memoriz...
Piano Practice Techniques to Fix EVERY Problem in Your Piano Playing
• Piano Practice Techniq...
👀 Secrets To Sight Reading. Join the waitlist here www.ashleejyoung.com/secretst...
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[@rainbowfox1934]

You described perfectly what happened to me when I played Rachmaninoff's Prelude in G Minor as my high school recital piece. At the end of one section, I completely forgot what was next. I took a breath and started back at the beginning of a section I remembered. My piano teacher, a concert pianist, came up to me laughing. "I am the only one who knew you forgot," he said to me. This was an incredibly helpful video.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Oh I’m glad it was helpful! And yes - exactly!!

[@maxineparker3372]

I’m 85 and love doing all of these ways to strengthen my memory. Age doesn’t matter and don’t lean on that copout…….!❤ 10:05

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

I love it! Way to go!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

I love it! Way to go!

[@kencory2476]

Thanks Ashlee for a wonderful lesson. I can't remember where I learned this trick, but one way to help your muscle memory is to play these passages HARD when you practice them.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Very nice! That’s incorporated into some of the revolutionary practice methods I teach as well ✅

[@fernfunk]

hard as in loud? or often?

[@rodterrell304]

Cool, this is good for us older players. I've always has trouble memorizing pieces, this helps a lot.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Great! Glad to hear it!

[@philjagdon6774]

Im 67 yo now, and started playing piano last year. I really enjoy the music theory and I never thought how easy it is to comprehend. I just noticed learning and playing piano is like an exercising my brain so much challenging and noticed it increases my awareness, focus and mindfulness. No wonder all musicians are intelligent people.

[@daschenji3895]

Excellent lesson.

[@SpitfireRoad]

These are great tips. But if don't regularly keep playing the memorized piece, you will forget it. I've been playing for over 50 years. I've forgotten dozens of memorized pieces because I simply stopped playing them.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

👍🏻

[@hanlee5292]

I can memorize any piece real good in couple weeks but, they never stay more than 1 month or more. so throughout years, I end up keep repeating the same few pieces again and again

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

YES - this is muscle memory at it's best (and worst)! Give some of the other methods a try and you'll move past it.

[@MrDaryca]

I have a perfect memory, it's just short 😢 Some very good suggestions, thanks a lot!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Haha! Get that! And good, you’re welcome!

[@ahauntinglybeautifulmelody]

thank you Ashlee !

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re welcome!

[@elizabethfield6526]

That was a ton of great information. Thank you

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re welcome! BTW are you in the free community? If not you’d probably like it!

[@wendym2544]

This is GREAT information. TY!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re very welcome! Thanks for saying so!

[@RoseWilson]

This is a fascinating video, thank you so much ❤

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re very welcome!

[@michaelatimm8012]

super helpful - thank you so much :-)❤

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You are welcome!

[@user-mt1uw8ks9c]

Your videos are AMAZING.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you taking the time to say so 🙏

[@claudiogarcia8860]

Very nice. Thanks

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Thanks for saying so!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re welcome!

[@mclaurinisGODsSon2]

I'm watching all of your videos. Good stuff.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Glad you’re enjoying!

[@mcleanblades9234]

Thanks!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Oh my gosh thank you for your generosity! 🙏

[@jeffh5388]

Thank you for sharing your professional insight. Your information is extremely helpful for memorizing piano pieces. I subscribed. Thanks.cheers

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You are welcome and thank you for taking the time to say so! I’m glad to know the info was helpful to you and I look forward to having you in the community!

[@lyndasoar4345]

... This sounds like a fun way to learn... Thanks.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re welcome!

[@jeanlucvassort6411]

bonjour and thanks for your advises sharing !! Besides being french i am very proud to notice that i can understand you fully your very speedy way of speaking. So double thanks for those 2 benefits looking at your video.🙂

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

That’s great! I’m glad also :)

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Yeah ! Elle parle vraiment vite ! Et je suis Anglais !!

[@clarinetninja]

This is such a great set of information and a wonderful presentation. Thank you for making this

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You are very welcome! Thanks for saying so!

[@georgio2]

Great lesson. I'm gonna try it now. Your speech was pronto and my hearing was adagio. Quickest lesson ever. Many thanks.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

😂 hahaha love this! You’re welcome!

[@georgio2]

Glad you have a sense of humour! The lesson was great.@@AshleeYoungMusicStudio

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

You have a way of releasing videos that give clarity to problem areas I encounter. I'm still trying to commit to memory Prélude in C Major, and transcribed it by hand not only into just the chords but also to transcribe it to G Major. I've made an analysis, but I have to dig a little deeper for understanding. Hopefully putting it into another key will help. I started studying the Rule of the Octave this week, and it's helped me a lot. I would love to see how you approach this since it was the way Italians used to teach 7 year old orphans to become musical maestri.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

I’m glad to hear it! Analyzing and transposing will definitely help. The rule of the octave is helpful! Very helpful - as with all “rules” in music though…. 😉

[@kathym.5676]

Great tips for a beginner!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Im so glad!

[@alexgoriatchenkov]

Great tactics for great practice. Thank you and Happy New Year !

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You are welcome! Happy new year!

[@freeaman]

I am a guitar Player and this video helped me a lot. I knew about Muscle memory, Now i think should focus on Aural Memory also.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

That’s great - thank you for sharing!! Good luck!!

[@simone0718]

Thank you so much for this video, Ashlee! I can read music well but I struggle to memorize the pieces.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You are very welcome! Thanks for saying so!

[@Pulse2AM]

I have a memory like a sieve! 🤣 I'm mainly a singer and writer but I do play guitar and keyboards. I have this chord chart for some guitar chords I am learning it takes me months to learn and retain the names. I can play the chords but damn If I know what they are! Forget about memorizing the notes on the fretboard, piano no problem because i can see them and associate the name visualy. I'm a very visually oriented person. I'll check out more of your videos!

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Yes! The visual aspect of the piano makes it quicker to pick up on! I always say one a day - just memorize one a day! That can be a great way to do it - even though it sounds tedious, after months, you’ll have so many memorized!

[@kcollins3451]

Yes it's a Chopin nocturne. This is a very good video. Thanks Ashlee.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You’re welcome! Thanks for saying so!

[@peteri3815]

Please tell me which one it is. Thanks!

[@Emma-yg2uf]

I struggle with finding the notes, for example I can't blindly play a melody because I need to look, stalling the progress.

[@WideCuriosity]

What was memory again ?

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

😂😂😂

[@ray-piano9326]

Great topic. I can read but poor memorization ability. I don't know that first short piece N0 9. What is it, please?

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Hmmmmm I’m not sure what you mean by no. 9?

[@aycannehir]

​@@AshleeYoungMusicStudio He talks about the 9th string at 04:34

[@simone0718]

Ashlee, what is the name of this piece? It's so beautiful; I'd like to find the music and learn it.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Chopin’s waltz in Ab major, op. 69, No. 1

[@simone0718]

Thank you very much! @@AshleeYoungMusicStudio 😃

[@LibertyWarrior68]

This is good if you want to learn from sheet music, but there are other ways to learn how to remember songs. Understanding chords and music theory, recognising how intervals sound, using relative pitch for melody ear training, hearing for the chords within a scale, melody patterns over chords. Muscle memory isn't really that important but you can't help developing it, if you wish to play a piece the same way every time.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Yep - if you watch the video I recommend in this video I talk about all of that. It’s all connected!

[@LibertyWarrior68]

@@AshleeYoungMusicStudio I watched most of it, I promise.

[@101xaplax101]

Wait until you hit 65 yrs of age

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

😊

[@generoley]

LOL! Wait till you hit 66 yrs old. Not only do I forget the song… I can’t remember where I put the sheet music!

[@crp5898]

Y yo con 96 años no recuerdo dónde tengo los papeles del cementerio, besitos chau chau.

[@n1iwr]

Im in my 60’s and although I’m slower to remember my music, if I find as many ways as possible to attach to what I’m learning, I remember it more fully!! Same thing I did in nursing school to learn my school work. So it’s not necessarily an age thing but I’ll let u know how my brain works when I hit 70!!! Hahaha!!

[@HarpMuse]

I have a student in her 70’s. When she started she couldn’t remember more than 3 notes. 2 years later and she’s remembering songs that are 16 measures.

[@billligon4005]

How is it possible to memorize the Revolutionary Etude without even trying. What happens and how can I translate that to other pieces??

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

If you remember anything, without even trying, that is muscle memory, which is the first kind of memory that I described in this video. It’s really essential, and it’s the first one to develop… However, it is not super reliable. Muscle memory essentially comes from repetition - so if you want to memorize other pieces in the same way that you have memorized the revolutionary étude I would recommend you play them over and over and over again… However, that will only get you so far. I would highly suggest that you start to develop the other types of memory that I discuss in the video using some of the exercises! That way you’ll have pieces in the memory for the long term - even if you get nervous, even if you make a mistake, etc.

[@awakenwithoutcoffee]

really great video that showcases my biggest weakness: memory. I actually strengthened relative pitch just to bypass my shortcomings ha! (sorry teachers).

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Ohhhhhhhh! Well I hope you take the info and run with it! 🏃‍♀️

[@awakenwithoutcoffee]

​@@AshleeYoungMusicStudio thank you miss I will ! One thing that personally helps me remember is to approach the piece backwards, learning the cadence first and than the coda etc. As a composer I tend to listen to the construction as well. If I don't "understand" the piece I tend to play more mechanical while if I analyze it well I become part of the composition while performing. I'm thinking about doing a Chopin etude challenge and stream my progress.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

I've forgotten what I was going to write.....

[@moimoi9947]

Chopin’s « Valse de l’adieu »

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

🙌🏻

[@jamessullenriot]

I can't read music, I have no choice but to memorize every thing I learn on piano (and guitar and drums as well) 😂

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Lol

[@hvxcolors396]

I'm interested in your story for research. Is there a particular reason you don't read music? How do you memorize? Most people I know that play only by ear have a very good knowledge/feeling for scales and chords.

[@MsBiggles51]

Why not just learn how to read music?

[@vickystretton361]

L

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

?

[@PeterParker-ff7ub]

my brain hates me.n

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

Oh no!

[@kevingmccann8552]

Great content, but Wow! She talks soooo fast. Makes it hard to take it all in.

[@AshleeYoungMusicStudio]

You can slow it down on the settings! ;)