Propanolol, in much lower doses than what is presumably used for these memory matters, has another use, of much more direct relevance for performers, musical and otherwise.
Stage Fright. One propanolol pill an hour before what is expected to be a stressful appearance will help big-time.
Now, before someone says, "I don't want to be drugged up when I sing," or "I don't want to lose my edge," or "I don't want to get hooked on drugs," or the like, let me tell you: A. It's not habit-forming. B. It does NOT dull your senses. C. Neither does it make you play/sing/act any better; it only keeps the nervousness from causing tremors, clumsiness, etc. It just lets you play/sing/act as well as you have already learned to do.
One does not become dependent on propanolol used in this way. From what I've read and from my own experience and that of my Beautiful Wife, a professional pianist, only on the first, maybe second or so event is it necessary. The explanation seems to be that on repeat occasions the performer comes to the stage without so much anticipatory fear, and thus has less need of help in this quarter. Then, supposing a performance in a new or larger venue, or otherwise a more stressful than normal occasion, propanolol's help might be indicated again.
It is common with highly trained classical musicians, when faced with life-or-death, career-making-or-busting auditions, to use propanolol to avoid having "the shakes" blow their chances.
This is a well-known and accepted medical use of this drug, and there should be no problem getting a prescription from a doctor for this use. About eight years ago, on my wife's recommendation, I got a bottle of propanolol. I used it I think twice, with success; then later, when facing a concert with a large audience and lot of press exposure, I used it on a one-time basis. The remainder of the bottle of propanolol sits in the cabinet, unneeded, unused. But it was well worth it for those three or four pills that I did use.