At flute group last week we were told to learn the 3rd movement of Boyce's symphony no. 1 off by heart for this week. I can learn flute music more easily than piano music but it usually is a gradual process & tends to be songlike music that I can memorise.
Flute 3 part of this symphony is not terribly songlike - it has subtle variations on the arpeggios. I thought I wasn't doing too badly till I realised I'd learned a bar incorrectly!
58 bars to learn - any useful ideas

Playing it over and over! Thats about it, really. I don't really have a method for it, having never attmepted to learn a piece by heart. I just suddenly find one day, I can pick my flute up, and the piece is there!

I'm sure it'll fall into place when you least expect it! Good luck!

Maybe try learning a few bars/phrases at a time...the gradually fitting more and more together

I think that would be the best way but I'm under pressure here to have it learned by wednesday. & the phrases are muddling because you think it's repeated but it has a subtle variation to it. And it will be very unfunny if I don't know it

Try learning the piece from the end. Start with the last bar and work backwards, adding a bar each time. You'll be reaching the more familiar bits as you go through, rather than the less familiar bits.

I'm using this technique for sight reading at the moment, and it really makes me look at key signatures and time signatures which I'm good at skipping over and then trying to work out when I'm half-way through the first line.

One thing I find works (OK I'm a singer not a flautist, but I don't see why you couldn't try it..) is to put the music on the stand in front of me and then perform it with my eyes closed. If I get stuck, I have the option to open my eyes to find out what's coming next.
Having the music there, even though I'm not looking at it, gives me an extra boost of confidence, so I relax a little and often I find by relaxing that the music is "there" in my brain. So I don't have to open my eyes too often.
Then, when I have to perform without the music, if I find myself drying up I close my eyes again and that puts me back in the position I was when I was learning the music - and so I can recall it.

Just typing it, it sounds crackers. But it works for me.

Cheers

Katyjay

Yes! I did that with the list A piece that I was trying out which looked very scary at first. I still am not great at it, but feeling a bit more like I will one day be able to play it, instead of "ohmygoodnessIwillnevergetthis!"

Katyjay - interesting - I think I shall try that!

Which piece is that?

Thoroughly mess up the quoting, didn't I?
The two list A pieces that my teacher suggested are the Leclair Allemanda, and the CPE Bach... I forget the name of that one and the syllabub is downstairs. I also have the Handel but those are the two she suggested were good and maybe less overdone. The Leclair one is the one I'm getting to grips with - the other one I rather gave up on, there were some bits that I honestly don't think I'll be able to play fast enough even by Christmas! I haven't heard either of them though so it's hard to say how I'm doing on them. Keep meaning to post a "help!" thread about them, only I don't even know what I need help for that can be helped over the net! Do you know either of them?

I did wonder why I was confused!!

It was me not you!!! I think I have sorted it now though...

No I know! But I was confused by your post!

Maybe I'm just confusing...

No comment!

thanks hon

When I played with Flutewise with the Galways, we had to memorise about 7 songs, all with accompaniment. I just basically played them section by section, but kept going over it. I also recorded myself to see how much I knew, or just to follow with the music to see whether I had made any mistakes. Good luck!

I don't really know either of them, apart from having played them through when I was getting to grips with the new syllabus. I tend to avoid both of those composers: I like CPE but he's often rhythmically challenging, and I'm just not into Leclair-style movements; all that ornamentation does nothing for me.

Yes, that is what I had noticed about the CPE, I was just not at all convinced that I had the rhythms correct however carefully I counted and how slow I tried it - and did not want to learn it wrong.

I actually like the bits I can play of the Leclair, though as yet I haven't worked out how all the ornaments fit in.

Which CPE Bach piece is it?

Allegro from Sonata in D Wq. 131 H 561

Oh ok, not played it but have a CD of Bach sonatas in front of me, I'll have a listen.

PS - What does Wq mean? On my CD cover, it says it is Wq129

I've no idea - I copied it out straight from the syllabus

Hmmm *wonders*

It's a mystery!

Andy, how're you getting on?

Last night I tried a combination of everyone's suggestions - started at the end, adding on 1 phrase at a time,playing it with my eyes closed ( I think I was doing that anyway). Also had realised that to be able to memorise it I have to be "singing" it in my head (hesitate to call my singing "singing" - roll on Kodaly)
I've realised I don't memorise by remembering note names but intervals & patterns. I know when I have memorised this I will probably be able to transpose it to any key- which is of no use at all but is interesting to know!
Still not convinced it will be fluent at speed by wednesday but it won't be for lack of effort!

I am sure they will not expect you to remember it perfectly, sounds like you are doing a really good job so far

oh they will & to speed, remembering dynamics & articulation. Which is why a lot of the time I feel completely out of my depth

Well, you're doing a good job, when you have to work and look after a family Unless you are made to recite it by yourself, I don't think they will notice if you get lost for a bar or two *hug*

Thanks Nicki - that makes me feel a lot better

You're welcome by the way

Are you playing in the forums concert?

Yes - if my hands stop shaking for long enough

Sounds like you are doing a good job, and I am sure they will appreciate your effort even if it isn't absolutely fluent by Wednesday. And if they do not appreciate it, send 'em to us, n we'll beat 'em up for you, k?!

Heheh yes we will!!

Anyone heard from Andy recently?

She's been away from her normal computer, but managed to log on briefly a few days ago.

Oh good - I didn't see her posting - I was just a little concerned because she's usually such a regular. Keep meaning to email her, but I'm a little useless in that regard. Ta for the heads up