This is an interesting idea, coming from a neurologist, Dr. Douglas
Fields, "who researches memory and learning. He discovered that our
brains make stronger connections when they're stimulated three times
with a rest period of ten minutes between each stimulation. . . . 'I
apply this to learning all the time in my own life,' Fields says. 'For
example, in mastering a difficult piece of music on the guitar, I
practice, then I do something else for ten minutes, then I practice
again."
I've used something similar in my rehearsals with a tough passage,
working on it, then putting it aside and working on something else, then
coming back to it in the same rehearsal. I've done this primarily with
relatively short passages, but it has worked well. I think it'll be
interesting to try it in a more organized way, working three repetitions
and spacing close to 10 minutes apart.
I've mentioned this in the past, but when I conduct the St. Matthew
Passion the sudden and dramatic "Barrabam" (Barrabas) chord is a
challenge for the choir. After I've worked on it a bit, I tell the choir
that whenever they hear the recitative lead-in, they have to be ready
to sing it . . . and I sprinkle it throughout the rehearsals here and
there. It becomes almost an automatic conditioned response. By the time
of performance there's no fear and the entrance can be confident and
dramatic.
The idea of enhancing learning by spacing repetitions has been
researched extensively, with the quickest and most thorough learning
coming from timing each review so it happens just before one
would be about to forget (i.e., just before it passes out of short-term
memory). This particularly works well with individual facts, vocabulary,
etc., with the timing of review periods (gradually getting further and
further apart) the quickest way to put them into long-term memory. There
are systems for spacing repetitions of material and one of the best is
available for free through Anki
(essentially it's a computerized—and scientifically spaced—version of
flash cards). If you're learning a language or anything that involves
this kind of knowledge, try it out.
I think the same idea might be interesting to experiment with when
learning scores (not Anki! the 3x10 idea). As you practice or work on a
particular passage or section of music and try to get it clearly in your
mind, after an intense study period, put it aside, work on something
else for 10 minutes or so, work on it again, and do it one more time. I
suspect it will get it into your mind more quickly and efficiently.
Something to try!
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