Relate or not?

One of the most common frustrations I hear from piano students is:
“Denis, I spent so much time learning this piece—and now I can’t remember it anymore!”
And it’s almost always followed by the golden question:
“Isn’t there some trick to make it stick forever? Like saving it to a USB stick?”

If only.

This idea is so tempting that some people out there have turned it into a business—offering miracle methods and “memory hacks” that promise you’ll never forget a piece again. Spoiler: it’s not quite that simple.

I remember one parent saying to me:
“My son worked so hard on those pieces, and now a few weeks later—it’s like they never existed! Is something wrong with him? Did I get a broken kid model”

I smiled and asked her:
“Quick—do you remember what you ate for dinner last Wednesday? Or how much of your high school math you could still solve right now?”

The brain doesn’t work like a storage drive—and that’s okay.
It’s about how often we revisit, refresh, and reconnect with what we’ve learned. Not about “saving it once and for all.” But there are definitely many strategies which help learn faster and solidify your memory. Check out a related video on the topic👆

[DmitriBron]

Maybe motivation also plays a role. I am willing to spend as much time and energy on a Bach fugue as I am on other music, but I am not willing to spend 10 times more time and energy. And that is what it takes to learn a fugue. And is it really 10 times prettier or more profound then other music ?

[mitchnew]

This is too relatable !! Thanks for the cool video sir !❤

[AppleJambles]

Keep trying and the eraser cannot hold the ink. Many small things make the biggest things happen.