As we learn piano one of the first important steps is to begin learning songs. When we have a repertoire we can start impressing the heck out of everyone we know and that is ultimately where the real fun start to happen.
Many ways of memorizing songs exist. Here is the best method i know of:
1) Listen to the song once, from beginning to end. Pay very close attention to what feelings you get as you listen. Is it an uplifting song, or perhaps a sad melancholic ballad. The idea here is to get your emotions involved in the process before the next step.
2) Listen to it again, two times. If you can, write down all of the chords as you listen the first time around. The second time around divide the song in to A’s, B’s and Breaks like this: “A B A B C B B(half tone up)” or “A A B A B C B break B B”. Remember to also include C parts, modulations and other important elements. This last bit provides structure and is a very important step. Imagine yourself as an architect. This is your blueprint to base everything else on.
3) Go through all of the chords on the keyboard, playing them very slowly. Notice “hard parts”, figure out the best fingering and make sure you can play the whole thing without two much hesitation. It is best to reach a state of feeling like it’s effortless before moving on.
4) Do the same as above again, but turn on your metronome as well and let it help you keep a steady beat. Make sure your timing is as accurate as possible and keep speeding up the metronome until you can play effortlessly in the original tempo.
5) Now, play the song. From start to finish a couple of times. Try to have at least one perfect execution. Remember to keep a steady beat. Tapping your foot can help. Leave your piano alone and sleep on it. Play it only once the next day.
This method takes a little practice. If you do it correctly, with focus and determination, the next time you sit down at your piano the song will flow naturally from you hands and you will be free to enjoy the experience together with your audience.
To learn more you can visit my website with piano lessons, practice tips, advice and guidance. 1on1 Piano Lessons Dot Com.