Music's Memory

Research suggests that material learned through music is both remembered for longer and learned more quickly. This technique was used in past centuries: Homer's Iliad and Odyssey are known to have been passed down as songs before being written down. We cannot always recall information we have stored, but music makes this much easier through repeated rhythms and sounds. For example, you can help a child memorise telephone numbers by singing them.

Memories evoked by music relate to special moments in our lives. Although this varies with age, old favourites generally take us back to our youth. Psychologists call this the “reminiscence bump”. They attribute it to youth being the time when we first try many things and first experience independence: everything is new and meaningful. Later, life becomes more settled. Yet whatever your age, a song that is special to you still evokes the same feelings, showing that music has a good memory. Music awakens emotions, but the feeling it brings out in you is not determined by its melody: a sad song may recall a happy memory, while a cheerful tune may bring sadness.

Music involves the whole brain in learning. Traditionally, school learning methods rely on memorisation and involve only the left side of the brain. Although the left side is stronger than the right in numerical and logical matters, it is weaker in areas such as memory and creative thinking. Music with particular tempos and frequencies that engage both sides of the brain enables faster, easier learning and helps information remain in long-term memory.

Smell, like music, has a powerful connection to memory. But scientists studying the brain say smell evokes more personal memories: the same scent may remind different people of different events. Music has a more social dimension. Musical memories often involve friends with whom we listened and shared the experience. A brain injury from an accident can cause memory loss, and music can help revive special memories from a person's life. By playing music, doctors can help patients recall their youth and their families.

Let us recognise music's powerful memory and make use of it.

Duygu Deniz Uşaklıgil
Rekor Sanat – Violin Teacher