Ellisteph: I think playing the tune you want to learn before parking up is a good point. I've not always conciously tried to do it, but now you mention it, I think you're right.
It reminds me - Donkeys years ago, a colleague of mine would loudly hum a tune, then disappear downstairs, only to return a while later with a mischeivious grin on his face. After a while, I worked it out. He's hum a tune, disappear then return *knowing* I'd be humming it when he got back!
As George says, I've often heard at a session someone play a tune and somewhat confused " what tune was that?" and have had it happen to me too...... somehow unconscious absorbing of a tune then makes it's way to the fingers.
This 'seeding' of a tune into the memory is quite curious and if we can use it to our advantage, all well and good.
Q