Performing from Memory Doesn’t Have to be Terrifying: How Understanding the Science of Memory Can Help

 

Performing from memory is something all musicians will have to do at some point in their careers. For some, this prospect can be terrifying, whereas others seem to embrace the challenge with ease. This presentation will approach this topic from the view of neuroscience, looking at the neuroscience of memory in general, strategies for memorization, and specifically how musicians can improve their comfort with and mastery of performing from memory.

 

Violist Molly Gebrian has distinguished herself as an outstanding performer, teacher, and scholar throughout the US and Europe. Her principal teachers include Peter Slowik, Carol Rodland, James Dunham, and Garth Knox. Dr. Gebrian holds degrees from Rice University, New England Conservatory, and Oberlin College, where she studied viola performance and neuroscience. She has published papers on music and the brain in The Strad, the Journal of the American Viola Society, and Frontiers in Psychology, and is a frequent presenter on the topic. She currently teaches at the University of Arizona.