MEMORIZATION PRINCIPLES & TECHNIQUES
Copyright © 2018 by Nello Bottari
A. CHARACTER DECISION
1. Always memorize your character’s lines “in character”.
2. Director-approved Character Decision first—memorization of your lines and blocking second.
3. Utilize all aspects of your Character Decision to aid the mastery of your character portrayal.
B. COMPREHENSION
1. Read and understand the basic story line, plot and theme of the script.
2. Understand your character’s importance and motivations within each scene.
3. Note your fellow cast members’ interactions and interpretations of their roles within each scene.
4. Incorporate all production elements: entrances, exits, cues, scene changes, properties, costuming, special effects and set design in mastering your role.
5. Consult with your Director if necessary.
C. FOCUS
1. Requires quiet, calm, non-stressful circumstances with no simultaneous, conflicting stimuli or outer distractions.
2. Requires full mental attentiveness and concentration with all human senses coordinated and aligned.
D. ASSOCIATION
1. The “triggering” of one thing—to another thing.
2. The reasonable sequencing of one concept & action—to the next concept & action.
3. Sequential cues and memory by rote.
E. EXAGGERATION
1. Employs extreme vocal variation of line delivery.
2. Varying enunciation, volume, pitch, inflection, pacing and pauses.
3. Similar to singing: the “melody” of normal speech.
4. Incorporates variation of character intensity and body movement.
F. REPETITION
1. Numerous repetitions of a line, a portion of a scene, an entire scene, an entire Act, a full run of the play.
2. ”Burning” material into your brain through intense familiarity.
3. Progressively requires less mental effort and becomes “2nd Nature”.
G. ISOLATE AND LINK KEY WORDS
1. All sentences contain a subject and predicate; minimally, a noun and a verb.
2. Determine the most prominent word or phrase in a particular sentence.
3. Focus on that word or phrase as a “short-hand” to comprehend and remember the entire sentence.
4. Link “key words” to employ the Association Principle.
H. GET OFF THE PAGE A.S.A.P.
1. In sequential order, progressively memorize successive “clumps” of words—then phrases—and try to recall them as soon as you are able.
2. Discipline yourself to recall the exact line—do not “approximate” your recollection of the line.
3. In general, memory is like a muscle: the more you use it, the more it develops. Utilize numerous and various modalities to intensely familiarize yourself with something you want to remember. For memorizing lines, employ as many of these modalities as you can.
A. MODALITIES
Seeing: Through your eyes; from your personal perspective onstage as you experience the set, the audience and your fellow Cast members.
Reading: Reading your highlighted lines in the script silently and out loud; studying your blocking notes.
Speaking: Saying your lines out loud at rehearsal and privately on your own time.
Singing: Establishing a consistent, rhythmic, melodic delivery of your lines consistent with your Character Decision.
Hearing: Hearing yourself as you say your lines; hearing a recording of yourself reciting your lines.
Writing: Isolating your lines and handwriting them on paper; typing out your lines.
Touching: Physical movement on stage; execution of your blocking; coming in contact with set elements associated with your lines; interaction with the Cast onstage.
Visualizing: In your mind, imagining and visualizing your performance onstage as though you were a member of the audience. Similar to an “out of body experience”; you, looking at yourself onstage.
"THE 6 R'S"
A. THE 6 R’s: Read→ Record→ Rewind→ Replay→ Recite→ Repeat
1. Requires the use of a recording device with a rewind function. (Digital or Cassette recorder/players work best.)
2. Read out loud all the characters’ scripted lines in a scene into the recording device.
3. Hold the microphone close to you mouth (or speak louder) while reading your character’s lines and away from your mouth (speak softer) when reading all the other characters’ lines. This technique emphasizes your lines and creates the illusion of spatial distance.
4. Rewind, Replay and Recite your lines as you hear them.
5. The Repeat. Requires numerous replays for full and accurate recall of your lines from memory.