Interactive Workshop – Saturday 18th February 2022
Playing a piece over and over eventually makes the muscular movements automatic, but this muscle memory can be extremely unreliable when under pressure in a performing situation. In this interactive, hands-on workshop, Graham Fitch explores the different memory systems and introduces various tools that will help you learn pieces on a deeper level for confident performances that reflect your full potential!
Workshop format
The format of this workshop is similar to our highly popular interactive practising workshop, but with a focus on deep learning and memorisation tools. Furthermore, the event combines in-person and online participation giving you the option to join us in our studios or from the comfort of your home.
The workshop will be divided up into several sessions in which Graham will introduce a topic and then demonstrate it in action using examples and exercises created specifically for this event.
In-person participants will have the opportunity to volunteer to work with Graham for these demonstrations (entirely optional!) and online participants will be able to try out the exercises during the session. There will also be opportunities throughout for Q&A for all participants.
Worksheets including the examples and exercises will be sent out in advance of the event. All participants will also receive high-quality recordings of the sessions which will allow you to watch and try-out the exercises in your own time thereafter. Although there will be prescribed examples for the practical aspects of the workshop, you may also use your own pieces for the exercises should you wish to do so.
Content & schedule
10:30 – 11:45 Session 1: The Memory Systems
For security in performance, we cannot rely solely on muscle memory as it tends to let us down when we are under pressure. Muscle memory needs to be backed up by aural and analytic memory. For best results, we develop all these forms of memory as we learn the notes, rather than waiting until after the notes are learned and the reflexes formed. Thus we memorise actively, as opposed to passively.
In the initial session we will look at each of the memory systems and discover how they work. We will then start to explore various different ways to analyse based on what we notice in the score. Do not worry if you do not have a solid grounding in textbook analysis, you will still find it possible to recognise patterns in the music’s design and to find enough anchors in the score to help you come up with a mind map that will form the basis of your memorisation process!
12:00 – 13:00 Session 2: Using Personalised Pattern Recognition (PPR) in the Learning Process
Analysing a piece of music may sound scary, but anyone can discover shapes and patterns in the score. In this session, we will look at several examples from the repertoire (elementary, intermediate and advanced) using a variety of different analytic tools. Because we all have different learning styles, you will find some of these tools will resonate with you more than others which is exactly how it should be!
14:00 – 15:15 Session 3: The Memory Tools (Part 1)
In this session we will examine the many different tools available to us when we memorise that develop the ear, sharpen our understanding of the musical structure as well as deliberately interrupt over-reliance on fickle muscular memory. In addition to the many examples Graham will be using, feel free to bring along your own pieces (or sections of pieces) so you can apply some of these approaches in the session.
15:30 – 16:30 Session 4: The Memory Tools (Part 2) – Developing Muscular Memory
We continue our exploration of the memory tools, applying them to further repertoire examples. Rather than learn notes via the Repeated Read-Through Method (extremely inefficient), we look at ways to develop a secure muscle memory in our practice that incorporate other memory tools such as transposition and visualisation.
16:30 – c. 17:00 Q&A This is your opportunity to ask questions related to the day’s activities for both in-person and online participants!
Ticket options & prices
Online Tickets – If you missed this event you can still purchase access to recording and resources for the online presentation. Click here to purchase an online ticket for the presentation for £80 (£48 for Online Academy subscribers).
Please see our FAQ below for further information or click here to contact us if you have any other questions.
Venue
Located in Islington, our new studios have been configured as a dedicated space for shoots, streaming and live events. Despite its central location, the venue boasts almost 2000sqf of beautifully decorated space and a 2009 Yamaha S6 grand piano. It’s well situated for access by public transport being roughly 10 mins walk from Highbury & Islington (Victoria Line) and Caledonian Road (Piccadilly Line) tube stations. Caledonian Road & Barnsbury Rail Station (London Overground) is only a few minutes away and Kings Cross & St Pancras International is a 5 min taxi ride.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this differ from Graham’s previous deep learning and memorisation workshops? This workshop covers similar material but in a much more detailed, hands-on manner. It goes beyond the previous presentations by giving a set of exercises carefully designed to show you how to apply each of the concepts and tools yourself.
- How does online participation work? Graham will present each concept and then demonstrate it in practice with volunteers from our in-person audience. If you’re joining online you will also have the opportunity to try the exercises from the comfort of your home and to ask questions at various stages during the sessions. You will receive worksheets with exercises in advance of the event and the recordings afterwards. Therefore you can follow the material in your own time if you can’t join us live or wish to revisit it afterwards.
- Is this workshop only applicable if I’m performing by memory? Although it will look at different memory systems, these are useful for learning your pieces more effectively and on a deeper level regardless of whether you are using a score and / or performing in front of others.
- What level is this workshop suitable for? The exercises and examples will be suitable for a wide range of levels from late elementary upwards. They have been carefully designed to illustrate concepts and to give you a tangible experience in applying them yourself rather than to test your proficiency as a pianist.
- Is any preparation required? No, we will be using prescribed worksheets and exercises that will be sent to you in advance. Although we will provide example pieces for the exercises, you may also wish to use your own pieces for the practical aspects of the workshop. Therefore you are welcome to bring pieces (or sections thereof) at any level that you can play from memory, as well as spots that let you down in performance.
- I want to join in person – do I have to play? This is entirely voluntary and you will not be expected to work with Graham unless you want to! If you choose not to, you will still receive the recording and worksheets which will allow you to try the exercises in private after the event.
- Is the venue accessible for wheelchair users? Unfortunately due to the layout of the building, the venue is not accessible for wheelchair users as there are two flights of stairs and no lift access.
- What is the cancellation policy? Please see terms and conditions regarding our cancellation policy.
- Is accommodation included? Accommodation and meals (other than refreshments and a light lunch on each of the days) is not included and participants will need to make their own arrangements.
- Do you cater for any specific dietary requirements? Yes, you can tell us about any dietary requirements that you have on our booking form. We will do our best to accommodate you but we can’t guarantee that our food or drink are allergen free.
- Are there any discounts for Online Academy subscribers for in-person tickets? Due to the costs of hosting an event of this nature in central London and the limited places available, we regret we’re unable to offer discounts to Online Academy subscribers for in-person tickets. We will however give Online Academy subscribers an exclusive window to take advantage of discounted early-bird tickets.
- I would love to participate but I’m nervous about playing in front of others! Working with Graham during this session is entirely optional therefore you do not need to play unless you wish to. The exercises have been designed to demonstrate specific tools and concepts rather than proficiency. Furthermore, most players attending a piano course will feel nervous playing in front of the group and Graham’s approach is to recognise and respect this, creating a safe and non-judgmental space for everyone.
Terms & conditions
Our terms and conditions for bookings for in-person tickets as of 01/08/2022 are as follows:
- Fees for in-person tickets are payable upfront in full at the time of booking
- You will receive a refund of 50% if you need to cancel any time up until two weeks of the event start date (for any reason)
- The event will be streamed live and recorded for the benefit of participants and an online audience. Therefore by participating in-person, you consent to our recording of the event and usage of the recordings for this purpose.
- In the event of a cancellation, you will be provided with digital access to the event and the recordings thereof
- If the event cannot be run as originally planned, we will give you the option to rebook for another date or a full refund
- We recommend that you take out suitable insurance including cancellation protection, particularly if substantial travel expenses are likely to be incurred
- You are responsible for informing us of any particular dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances. Our catering team will do their best to accommodate such requests but we can’t guarantee that our food or drink are allergen free.
- Please ensure you have any medication with you and alert a member of the team in the event of an allergic reaction.