Music Makes You Stronger

Well…. Your memory at least. Music creates the strongest form of memory.

Have you ever wondered why when you hear a familiar tune it can bring to mind a certain place or a certain feeling? The little tune your favorite teacher taught you in elementary school or the song that a certain boyfriend used to sing in the car all the time. Try humming just the beginning of “Twinkle, Twinkle” and everyone around you will know the tune. Merely say the words “Ice, Ice Baby'' and you may set off an impromptu karaoke session. Whether you want to conjure up those memories or not, they seem to be forever ingrained in our brains.

So it’s no coincidence that even in our earliest stages of life we are taught new information through song. We use music to tell stories, for language development, even to teach rules and prayers in a memorable way.

The power of music memory is perhaps most evident in the cases of elderly patients. Alzheimer’s patients who seem to be completely unresponsive with little to no memory suddenly regain motor functions and can even recall lyrics to songs they once heard in their youth.

Victims of traumatic brain injuries can relearn valuable information more effectively through song than any other method.

According to studies the region of the brain most active when listening to music is the prefrontal cortex. Did you know that the prefrontal cortex is also the last region of the brain to atrophy? Perhaps that’s the reason music memory has such longevity.

So next time you’re struggling to remember some important information maybe you should consider turning it into a song. Phone, gum, keys, check!

---

Interested in lessons? Learn more! | Questions? Contact us

Music Junction offers private one-on-one music lessons with talented and caring music teachers at our music school in Burbank, CA. Study your choice of piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, violin, drums, woodwinds, strings. Virtual lessons are also available.