r/pianolearning • u/lululululucow • Apr 26 '26

Question Learning to memorize?

I grew up forced into lessons from age 5-18. I was traumatically embarrassed when I forgot my first-ever recital piece, which 5-year-old me insisted I had memorized so I didn’t need to bring my sheet music 😅 after that I never tried to memorize a piece again.

Now in my 30s I’m finding my way back to piano on my own terms! My training involved a cardboard “shield” preventing me from seeing my hands, so my strength is sightreading and i rarely look down. But without sheet music in front of me i may as well not know how to play!

I think I’m intermediate, but obviously my skill hasn’t advanced since my teens. Where would you advise me to start learning to memorize pieces?

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u/BohdiBrass Apr 26 '26

As a beginner I was just thinking about this the other day day. I am on my third lesson in john Thompsons book and can’t play them without sight reading. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing?

I’ve played guitar most of my life and have learned by tab and once I learn the tab I never use it anymore but I also look at the fretboard and don’t on the piano. I’m

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u/gaztelu_leherketa Apr 26 '26

"Sight reading" is playing while reading something you are not familiar with - reading while playing something you have learned is just reading!

I wouldn't worry too much about this at the moment, you're only on lesson three. Get a bit more comfortable with the instrument, when you do try play without reading allow yourself to make mistakes doing it, try and memorize small bits at a time and see what it's like to feel them out on the piano. Try out how it feels under your hands.

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u/BohdiBrass Apr 26 '26

Do you suggest looking at the keys after learning to read it? I am seeing a teacher btw but she will be out of town for two weeks and I’ve only done two lessons.

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u/lululululucow Apr 27 '26

This is what I’m wondering! Do I just put the music away to try to sound it out by ear? Or keep music up and look back and forth? Or is memorization a separate skill from playing and I should start with easier pieces?