I was in a taxi, in a small poor country in Africa. There was some classical music on the radio.
I asked the driver :
Do you like classical music ? what’s your favorite composer ?
He answered : oh yes…
Nb : It seems that Celine Dion is more talented than Bach or Chopin ))))
)))) the first 80 years are a little bit tricky… then it easier…
LOL I was seriously contemplating that perhaps when it comes to music that I might have a learning disorder… some stuff just doesnt sticK LOL
Lori,
I’ve been having the same feeling from time to time–that after a certain point, parts of my brain seem to have developed a Teflon-like surface. 
Having commented on our inability to remember some of the things we’ve learned from time to time, I just read this bit of consolation:
Things that we learn that are beneficial to our playing may slip out of our minds from time to time. Do not let it concern you too much if you forget some of what you have learned. It is surprising how knowledge will float back into consciousness in moments of need, and when there is real desire to know.
Mildred Portney Chase, Just Being at the Piano (DeVorss, 2017).
I learned a LOT from this blog particularly the series at the link. Research-based thoughts from a classical pianist about learning, memory, and how to practice. https://www.themusiciansbrain.com/?p=1937
1) Spaced or distributed practice has been known about by psychologists for more than a hundred years, but somehow, it isn’t taught in most schools – or taught by most music teachers. But research on distributed practice shows that learning is retained much longer when our practice or study is distributed over time rather than when it is concentrated.
OK, musicians certainly distribute our practice over time (unless we are cramming for an unexpected performance or for a jury). We learn a piece over a period of days, weeks, or months. There is always time between practice sessions. But what researchers are talking about is spacing within a practice session when you are initially learning the piece. They say that continuing to repeat a new excerpt of music after you have just learned it is not as effective as leaving it and practicing it again later during your practice session – maybe 20 minutes later if the piece is new, maybe an hour, adding longer intervals as the piece becomes more familiar – eventually spacing by a day or two, and longer.
Thank you for this post and link.
this is very precious and should be carefully studied.
I always thought that learning carefully passages by chunks was the way to learn and mass repetition was in fact to get confidence, to minimize risks and to let the brain focus on expression (sound) while we get “relaxed”.
but… that needs to be improved.
I just noticed that if you really love the piece and for unknown reason you really want to succeed… it will work…
so… choosing a piece to play is also very important… and… maybe work also on brain/memory/psychological difficulties depending on where and when you play…
and your own history…
Even some pieces have not the same psychological impact and has influence on memory ability.
this post is maybe the key to think better on what could be difficult to do and… why…
Of course, the work in classical and jazz seems to be very different… but it’s only about goals and strategies…so… it is not so different…
(I’m more confident in classical, but, that is in fact a psychological problem)
so… thank you again, I will carefully read it again
Wow ! love the Mozart in Cuba vid! Thanks so much for sharing 
LOL on this one (how to play big chords) 
Practicing in 2020
piano fitness
