Memorization Tips and Tricks

A post by Jenna Wilcox, PAA Artistic Director.
Memorization is the grunt work of the performing arts. Whether a jam poet or a Shakespearian actor, we all must memorize on a regular basis. So, how do you make it easier and faster? The first step is actually understanding your own learning style. Using the tips that match your learning style can help you learn faster.

Kinesthetic: This learning style relates to body position and movement. Doing it makes it easier to learn. This learning style benefits from memorizing lines with blocking and music with choreography. If you don’t have those pieces yet, try adding simple movements to lines or passages and repeating those when you work the lines or music.

Auditory: This learning style requires hearing to remember best. If this is you, make a recording of yourself reading your lines. You might even want to record the scene or your cue lines with someone else so as you listen you are hearing the full context of your work.

Visual: This learning style needs to see things and watch them work. If you learn best this way, try writing your lines down in a notebook once or twice. The process of watching your hand write the lines can help secure them in your mind.

Of course, nothing beats repetition and loads of practice. For some of us memorization comes easy and for some of us it is tough. If it is tough for you know that hard work will always get it done.