Take Time and Create Space to Memorize with Ease

The ease of memorization will initially come from the mindset and approach to memorizing. To create a sense of peace with this process is most important. Stress is the enemy of creative life. Stress causes high-blood pressure, disease, weight issues, and of course it is an enemy of the memory as well. Life is challenging, especially for the aspiring actor, and so we have to find ways to create space in our lives to not feel so stressed out. I am proposing that we transform the most important task of our profession into one of those stress-free islands.

To begin, I recommend that any memorization session you set aside at least three hours to really dig deep grooves of memory trails into your long-term memory. This will also, psychologically, give you permission to take your time, and not rush the process. The slower you do this, the “faster” you will retain knowledge.

Yoga, deep-breathing, and meditation are a few of the ways into the optimal state for your memorization session. Listening to calming (lyric-free) music may help. (See the appendix for a list of guided meditations, music, etc.) In my personal experience, music from the Baroque period is especially effective.

For the first imprinting of your lines, I prefer to begin somewhere where you can recline and relax in an almost sleep state. The goal is to “soften the clay” of your mind as it were so that you can imprint the letters there with ease. This process of calming the mind and body need only take a few minutes, depending on how riled up you are of course. Five to fifteen minutes should be sufficient. Hopefully you have a few hours planned for this season so again there is not imminent threat to just get on with it.

Slower is faster in this race.