Hi Foreverman,
When you are learning a song, the process of practicing over and over again to get it right pretty much makes memorization an automatic thing. It is not really something you need to focus on. It kinda just happens.
The funny thing about memory is that research has shown that it is not stored in one area of the brain. As we learn piano, several physiological changes are taking place in the brain. As we play, the brain is capturing data and storing it in short term memory in each of the associated sensory areas of the brain. So visual information is stored in the visual cortex, audio in the auditory cortex and the movements we make while playing are stored in the motor cortex. Keep in mind, short term memories do not last long. As we sleep, Important information is transferred to long term memory (tasks that we repeat on a regular basis and event's that evoke an emotional response seem to be deemed most important ((On that note, you will find that pieces you enjoy playing are lot easier to learn and remember because of the strong positive emotional response we experience while playing them)))
The process or creating long term memories is not simply information storage. Physical pathways, feedback loops and reflexive (automatic, subconscious) behaviors are also created between the memories and the associated sensory areas of the brain (there are many types of reflexive behaviors but muscle memory is one example) ...You will find that the more you play, the less you have to think about what your hands are doing.
As far as learning to read music, it is a skill you definitely want to work on developing and is something every musician should incorporate into their daily practice routine...The first step is learning where the notes are on the staves...Check out
http://www.musictheory.net/ They have a bunch of lessons and exercises that can be invaluable for learning to read music....Once you are comfortable identifying the notes..the next step is learning to sight-read....for that I would recommend presto keys pro. (the free version does not allow you to use a midi keyboard for note input)
http://www.prestokeys.com/
Other skills that can help immensely are
- getting to know your Major and minor scales which is also very easy (There really is NOTHING hard about music theory...much of it is akin to basic math LOL). Once you know the major scales, the minor scales are simple to learn as each minor scale is relative to a major scale. For example; C major's relative minor is A minor. You play the exact same keys as C major, but start on A instead of C. This is true of every natural minor scale and it's relative Major.
To figure out each Major Key's relative minor all you need to do is start at the key's tonic and count down three half steps. So Db relative minor is Bb, The notes you play for Db Major are Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb and C...The notes you play for Bb minor are Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, and Ab...Same exact notes, different tonic
Harmonic minor scales are nearly identical to Natural minor scales...The only difference is that the 7th note is raised by a half step (semitone)
Melodic minor scales are also built on Natural minor scales...the only difference is that going up the scale the 6th and 7th notes are raised a half step..but going down the scale you play the natural minor scale.
Learning to read chords is almost a simple as reading single notes....it is just a mater doing the math, learning the patterns and recognizing them on the sheets
I will never understand why many piano teachers put off learning scales when they are so simple and knowing them is integral to learning to read notation and in turn develop your sight-reading
Study the circle of 5ths and quiz yourself using the key signature exercises on musictheory.net
Ear training should be your next goal. again there is an exercise on music theory help you with this.....(every thing on musictheory.net is free and fully customizable.
you will also want to perfect your rhythm. Earmaster pro is an invaluable tool for this.
Learning to read sheet music is the simplest part of sight-reading and with consistent study, anyone should be able to learn to read scores almost as easily as reading a book.....the hardest part of sight-reading is learning to coordinate your movements with what your eyes are seeing.....but even that is not as hard as many people think
Practice these things daily and you will find your abilities progressing pretty rapidly.....I am talking in terms of weeks and months...not years
Good luck and if you have any questions....feel free to PM
