How To: Remember Lines


In my final year of high school, I was asked to train a choir and then perform a solo piece for a competition. After weeks of preparation, the day arrived and I confidently got up on stage to play the piano. For my solo performance, I chose an old Bach favourite, particularly because I could play it with my eyes closed.

The moment I sat down on the hard leather stool, my mind went blank. My fingers idled over the piano for the longest minute of my life as the audience started to shift in their seats.
One of the judges walked up on stage and handed me the score. I fumbled my way through the next three minutes and hurried off stage feeling like an utter failure.

Half a year later, I got another shot at redeeming myself. I was asked to train and lead an orchestra to perform in front of a larger crowd. I used the techniques below to overcome my fear of facing an audience. I believe these techniques will help you the next time you make a public speech, presentation or play an old Bach favourite in front of a crowd:
  1. Research shows that anxiety is a major block to memorization. It helps to breathe slowly and visualise the performance as you read your lines or practice a section of music. The brain retains information better when the body is in a relaxed state.
  2. Break your subject into smaller bits. It's easier to process and remember something when you've assimilated a small portion, rather than try to digest a whole big chunk of text or music. Think of a section as an individual expression. It's important to understand the intention behind each section.
  3. Rehearse aloud. This is crucial for public speeches. It's possible to be thrown off by how different your voice sounds in your head.
  4. Practice daily. In the weeks or days leading up to a recital, spend a portion of the day reviewing your material. It's best not to make any changes in the final few days.
  5. Share it with someone else. Involving social interaction aids in memorization. The best way to remember something is to teach it to someone else.
On that night, my solo performance went well. It was a perfect night, as I walked off stage with a beaming smile.

For more more information on memorizing techniques, check out: A Grand Entrance (Ann McDonough and Kent Brown)