Finger Memory

As a trumpet player and college athlete, I find the concept of muscle memory very useful.

 "When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, typing in a PIN, or playing a melody or phrase on a musical instrument..."

I practice scales on my trumpet, over and over and over, so that I can play music easily.  However, a similar effect occurs on songs you have practiced as well.  Put down your instrument, walk away, don't play for 6 months or a year, come back and try to play the music again.  You will be surprised how your fingers will move by themselves.

This effect only occurs after the muscle memory, or "finger memory" in our case, has been created through rigorous or lengthy practice.

The same thing occurs as I am typing this blog post.  I don't look at the keys, but at the words appearing on the screen.  That is touch typing that I learned as a tyke.  I'm no speed typist, but the finger memory is there.

This is what I hope to achieve by creating a vast amount of simple practice etudes, is to instill in my fingers the appropriate muscle memory so that I can break free from the concertina notation and be able to read any music without needing the finger positions or the button numbers written on the music.