Working on the musical memory of piano students attending Spanish Conservatories: Review and proposal

Abstract

This paper aims to shed light on a subject usually pushed into the background within musical education: the use of musical memory in piano performance. Starting from a bibliographical review about the issue we examine the way in which this part of musical education is approached in conservatoires. Conclusions obtained from the review are compared to references existing in the piano teaching programmes in professional Spanish music conservatoires. Through a questionnaire sent to most of Spanish conservatoires, and through interviews with some professional pianists, we have collected the main methodological resources used by piano teachers and players. After a critical analysis of the information we gleaned, we have drawn up a proposal for working on musical memory for a specific piece of piano music (which is included in the possible repertoire for intermediate level in the professional degree in Spain). The proposal is based on evidence found while reviewing the scientific literature about this issue, combined with the deficiencies observed within the conservatoire piano lesson setting.