Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

2021

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

DMA

College

College of Creative Arts

Department

School of Music

Committee Chair

Peter Amstutz

Committee Member

Lucy Mauro

Committee Member

Matthew Heap

Committee Member

Bruce Kang

Abstract

This research focuses on extending the imagination for the purposes of activating our brain to strengthen memorization of music for a stronger and more secure performance. This research explores the concept of self-awareness in the sense of having a conversation with ourselves in order to understand the primary reasons we pianists spend hours in the practice room. I introduce selected strategies for learning pieces through a meticulous process of memorization which impacts not only new pieces, but also the resurrecting of old repertoire. Along with including the concept of the Memory Palace, I explore different methods of memorizing music to relieve pianists’ unnecessary anxiety about performing from memory. Lastly, the final chapter examines the relationship between the performance and the influence of the teacher, based on my own personal experiences.

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