Effective working memory leads to effective and efficient learning
Working memory is our temporary storage unit for information. It is the folder we put our daily timetable in, what we need to take with us to work or school. It is emptied at the end of the day and very little of it is committed to our more permanent memory systems.
What types of behaviours do we see in children who struggle with their working memory? They may consistently forget the things they need for school or music lessons or struggle to remember a series of instructions, but cope just fine with one instruction at a time. They may need facts and processes repeated to them frequently as they struggle to hold them in their working memory folder.
Effective working memory leads to effective and efficient learning. With that comes experiences of learning success, feelings of confidence and a positive self-concept as a learner. Working memory is key to positive childhood development.
What does music learning have to do with this? In a study released this week comparing the different types of working memory between 91 musicians and 99 non-musicians, the researchers found that three areas of working memory were enhanced – the motor–visual memory, verbal memory, and memory for the movements of others.
How could these types of working memory be used? Motor visualisation is the ability to remember visual shapes and generate motor activity from these visual representations. It is an external representation of an internalised shape. If we think about that connection, getting the understanding from inside our brains to outside our body is useful with everything from forming letters when we are learning to write to rearranging furniture in our minds before we actually start moving them.
Verbal memory is the ability to remember words and other abstractions involving language. Schools are full of verbal communication. In fact, it might be the primary source of information exchange in a school, both in the classroom and in the playground. Having strong memory skills for words, instructions, changes in mood and warnings, means a student will be able to engage in all parts of school life fully and not feel like they aren’t getting all the messages and information they need to move forward.
Working memory for movements is the ability to remember a series of movements. Hand-clapping games with a complex series of cross-body hand claps and various clapping direction is a perfect example of this. Anyone who has seen the movie Pitch Perfect will know the Cup Song which is an excellent example of working memory for movement. Through our working memory, many of these combinations become automated, meaning we don’t have to think very hard about them, which is how Anna Kendrick can sing along while completing the movement series. But imagine a student who can’t do this and has to think very hard about every next move. If this type of working memory is not functioning at its best, completing any series of movements in a regular classroom will be cognitively taxing. When students are cognitively tired many other skills such as attention modulation, focus and impulse control become very difficult to manage.
Working memory is vital to effective learning, and through this study, it is suggested that music learning may be able to improve several types of working memory.
Music learning is the most effective way, both in terms of time and impact, to prime the brain for language learning.
If you are looking to develop your child’s emotional, social, motor and cognitive skills from early childhood, then try introducing music in early educational programs. Watch this video to learn more!
As humans, we are built on stories. The stories we were told, or told ourselves, when we were young, carry through to our adulthood. We share wisdom through stories, and we teach through stories. How do we as music teachers tell the story of our work?
This article delves into the transformative impact of music education, particularly for underserved students, and a strategic tool for addressing academic challenges, boosting attendance, language skills, and social integration.
You don’t have to be a musician to reap the benefits of music. Enjoying music activates a slew of brain regions, including areas involved in hearing, movement, reward, and emotion.
The field of neuromusical research has reached a new stage – large data-driven studies that are seeking to understand the overall effect of music learning on cognitive development and academic achievement.
The 2024 Celebrate to Advocate Calendar is your go-to guide for making advocacy effortless this year!
Research Bites make it effortless for your community to grasp the advantages of music education. They are the perfect addition to your emails, on your social media or in your e-newsletters!
Research Quick Reads aim to equip you with key insights to share the benefits of music education with your school leaders, staff, or parents. Consider these your secret weapon for initiating meaningful conversations on this topic.
Social psychology author, Brene Brown, uses the term Art Scars, which are experiences people have had as children in the arts that are deeply affecting. Art Scars might just be the hidden influence impacting your music learning advocacy.
Professor Sarah Wilson explains how singing is a form of natural therapy in this video by ABC Classic. She highlights the effect that singing has on motor networks, listening networks, planning and organisational networks, memory, language, and emotional networks. Essentially, singing is a full workout for the brain!
Recent research suggests that music, especially preferred tunes, can serve as potent painkillers. A study conducted by Darius Valevicius from McGill University found that participants listening to their favourite tracks experienced significantly reduced pain intensity and unpleasantness compared to silence or scrambled sound.
New research suggests that playing instruments and singing may support brain health as we age. A study found that engaging in musical activities, especially playing keyboard instruments, correlates with improved memory and cognitive function later in life.
Packed with BBB updates and our year in review, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, a new community success story, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
This article dives into the history and enduring vitality of the Brisbane City Pops Orchestra who have recently celebrated their milestone 50th-anniversary performance. The orchestra boasts a diverse ensemble of musicians spanning generations, including members who have been involved since the beginning.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that individuals with a history of musical experience, regardless of proficiency or instrument played, exhibited better memory and executive function.
New research challenges traditional theories of infant language acquisition, suggesting that babies primarily learn language through rhythmic rather than phonetic information in their initial months.
Packed with BBB updates and our year in review, a new opinion piece written by Dr Anita Collins, a new research reflection, and so much more. Fireworks will inspire and motivate you to advocate for music education.
This video contains excerpts from an ARTSpeaks event held on November 8, 2021. In this video, neurobiologist Nina Kraus explores the impact that music learning has on young students in the areas of reading skills, sound processing, language abilities, and more.