Why memorise music?

Memorisation will set you free. Free to play, to explore, to create. In acting one of the first actions an actor takes is to “get off the book”. Why? For the very reasons stated above. Therefore, examining boards require memorisation: to set you free. Free to discover and play with the composer’s intentions. This is difficult to do if you have your head buried in a score.

The following video of Dr. Mortensen explores various methods of memorisation. 

Practice room memorisation and it's dangers.
Theory
Improvisation

He explores in depth these topics.

1. Intellectual memory: applied theory.
2. Aural memory: you can play it in your head.
3. Motor memory: subconscious memory of how the body plays.
4. Visual memory: you can see the notes, or how it looks on the instrument. 

best, 

David Story