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I'm currently adding pieces to a repetoire so when friends call and ask me to play I can roll a few pieces off.

Problem is in order that I can memorize these pieces I feel that I should be playing them daily in my practice to maintain my ability to play them.

Is it a common problem that pieces leave your memory as you stop playing them or at least don't play them as often.

Unless you are a pro or play by ear you must practice repertoire often. No way around it. You might get away with a rotation of playing pieces every couple of days.

Mark...

I guess it depends on how well you want to play them. I can play pieces that I used to play a lot from memory after not having played them for years but I certainly wouldn't call them well played by any stretch. If I want to play the piece reasonably well it usually takes a few days practice to polish it back up.

Once a week should do to keep them. Make a list and a rota and stick to it. Looking at the list I started a some years ago but didn't put in a rota is just too disheartening - I could fill a fair number of concert programmes if only! Don't let it happen to you.

I find this a huge and frustrating problem even when looking at the music. I like the suggestion of a list. I'm a real lower level beginner, using 2nd grade books. I have nothing memorized. Your post actually helped me because I was struggling with the same question - If it was common for the piece you had liked so much to just disappear.

I spent so much of my first year as a re-learner trying to grasp concepts I never learned 40 years ago and struggling with rhythm and counting, that I've devoted no time to keeping things fresh. Great question and good responses. It meant a lot to me.

Debbie

The list is obviously a good idea but would you recommend playing the pieces weekly from memory or with sheet music as sometimes an audience are put off!!

If you have pieces memorized play them from memory, if playing from the sheet stick to that. I only memorize the difficult stuff.

The advice my teacher gave me tonight was to play from memory once you have mastered the piece from the score. He said that some people feel that you are not really free to express yourself if you are reading all the time.

I play by ear. Usually all I need to take with me is a list of titles with the key I that I play them in. When I have a gig coming up I'll get out my list and rehearse the songs to refresh my memory of how to start them and the chord changes.

But then I always sing when I do a one man show, so I will take lyric sheets also. Don't always use them but it's reassuring to have them.

Often I feel like I'm playing a different piece when memorized. I understand it better, so your teacher has a point, but then again sometimes what's on the paper, the rhythm of it, helps you understand the rhythm in the piece. Memorizing is not as old a trick as you may think nor is it the skill you may assume it to be. CPE Bach goes over the pros and cons quite well.