Here’s a memorization secret about cooperating with one’s own mind, a lesson I learned from my time recording TV/film music with studio musicians in Hollywood. Standing in front of the finest musicians in the world, I only needed to flow with them, to encourage them, to guide them and stay out of their way.
Here’s a lesson about memorizing Scripture I learned from my time recording in the studios in the Hollywood TV/Film music industry.
As an orchestrator, I learned very early on: when recording with an orchestra, NEVER start the session with the most difficult piece of music to be recorded that day.
The studio musicians are excellent. They love to play. They need to play, because it’s an opportunity to practice.
Especially the poor violinists. On some recording sessions, the music is so easy, they are bored, sawing away on long held notes. Afterward, they know they will have to practice some Paganini etudes, just to stay sharp for the next day’s recordings!
Still, it is wise to be considerate of the musicians.
They have driven from all over town to the studio, fighting traffic. They are preoccupied. They are never at their best at the start of a recording session.
They may even have some “red light jitters,” that moment of fear everyone experiences when they know they are recording. If they make just one mistake, everyone will have to rerecord the piece.
Recording that first piece of music helps the players settle down and relax. That’s why the conductor will take care in selecting the first few pieces to be recorded. When he can tell they are well warmed up, he can take out that challenging chase scene music.
What’s my point?
You will rarely be at your peak at the beginning of your memorization time. Give yourself some grace. Just because the first verse on the list is a passage 100 words long doesn’t mean you have a duty to start with it.
Your memory is likely still awakening. You may look at the verse addresses on the list of verses to review on a given day, and have a moment of panic when you realize you only recognize three of them.
Or you may look at a verse or passage you had planned to memorize. Suddenly the task seems insurmountable. It’s too long. You may even be asking yourself, “What made me think I could learn this?”
Does this slow start mean you are a fraud or a failure? NO!
It just means you are still in the process of getting in that wonderful zone where your memory becomes activated.
Start by reviewing an easy verse. It does not matter which one. Be kind to yourself, just like the conductor in my illustration is kind to his players. Give yourself grace. Don’t force your mind into high gear. Like an accelerating car, gaining speed is a process.
Whether you are reviewing a verse you’ve already memorized or learning a new one, be patient with yourself. Have confidence in your mind. It will eventually wake up. Some days, it will take longer than others.
The preoccupation with how you are doing could actually distract you, hurting your performance. Don’t make arbitrary judgments about how quickly the process should go.
The learning process takes the time it takes. You may as well relax and enjoy the journey. You will find that as you are patient and kind with your mind, like the players in my story, it will perform well for you.
I welcome your questions and suggestions.
God’s speed,
