Memorising vocal music should be much easier, for the singer has only one line to think of instead of several. But how is it that good sight-readers at the piano are often weak at sight-singing? It is because they are entirely dependent on hearing beforehand exactly what they are going to sing. With the pianist a good eye memory will often take the place of an ear and mind memory; some people have the kind of photographic memory that fixes the picture of the music that is coming on the brain, while the eye can go on photographing the next phrase of the music. But in sight-singing the voice has to hear the correct sound before it can make it.
In singing any rapid music memorising is essential. The eye and ear grasp a phrase of a melody, and while it is being sung the singer is looking ahead to grasp and memorise the next phrase. Text yourself with the passage given here in this way: -
- Play the key note. Study the first phrase only for the minute, trying to hear the notes exactly, and covering with your hand the remainder of the melody.
- Cover the whole piece, turn away and sing the phrase. Can you do it?
- Repeat the two processes with each successive phrase.
- Look at the whole tune.
- Sing it from memory.
Till you get quick and accurate with this method it is no use proceeding to the further stage, which is to memorise the second phrase while you are singing the first. Yet this is, of course, necessary in rapid music.
One warning word - Get into the habit of memorising your music phrase by phrase, and not bar by bar! :-)
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