The 3 Types of Memorization for Pianists

Welcome to LivingPianos.com. I’m Robert Estrin. Today we’re going to explore a fascinating subject: the three types of memorization. What you feel, what you hear, and what you see. These different aspects of memory work together to create a solid, reliable musical memory. This is known as multimodal memory, and to truly internalize a piece of music, you need to absorb it in all these different ways.

What You Feel: Motor or Muscle Memory

Let’s start with what you feel. This is sometimes called motor memory or muscle memory. Think about how we learn to walk. A toddler has to think about each step, but eventually walking becomes automatic. We take it for granted. The same is true at the piano. There’s a huge amount of physical information involved in playing even a single piece. Without motor memory, it would be almost impossible to execute all the notes, articulations, and rhythms. Motor memory is particularly helpful in moments when your mind might briefly wander. You may suddenly realize, mid-performance, that you’re playing without actively thinking about every note. That’s motor memory keeping things going. But you can’t rely on it completely. It isn’t enough on its own to ensure a secure performance, which is why other forms of memory are essential.

What You Hear: Aural Memory

The most important type of memory is what you hear. Active listening helps you develop a much deeper connection to the music. When you really hear the piece internally, you become aware of harmonic progressions, voicing, and melodic lines. Listening attentively allows you to avoid clashing harmonies and guides your musical interpretation. Listening is key to strengthening your overall memory of the music.

What You See: Visual Memory

Visual memory also plays a part, particularly when it comes to jumps and leaps on the keyboard. Sometimes you simply need to know where you’re going, and seeing the geography of the keyboard helps guide your hands accurately. Visual cues can also include your mental image of the score or your hands in motion.

Bringing It All Together: Intellectual Memory

So how do these three types of memory work together? They all contribute to what we can call intellectual memory. This is your conceptual understanding of the music—knowing how the harmonies are structured, how the phrases are shaped, what the rhythms are doing, and how the piece is built overall.

To test your intellectual memory, here’s a great exercise: Take your score and place it on the music rack. Without touching the keyboard, try playing the piece mentally. You can even play it on your lap. This is pure mental practice, and it’s incredibly effective. Brain scans have shown that mentally playing music activates the same areas of the brain as physically playing it. The only major difference is that you don’t have the benefit of tactile feedback. That “feel” of the keyboard isn’t there to guide you. Have you ever caught yourself in the middle of playing and suddenly realized you were playing on autopilot? That’s motor memory at work. But without the other types of memory, it’s not enough.

The Secret to Solid Memorization

By bringing together what you feel, what you hear, and what you see—and combining them into a deep intellectual understanding—you create a lasting, reliable musical memory. Best of all, this kind of memory stays with you even away from the piano. I hope this is helpful for you. Share your thoughts in the comments here at LivingPianos.com and on YouTube!