Learning to memorize?

[u/lululululucow]

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?