Music and Memory

Introduction:
      
http://www.osna-musik.de/chor/pop/3_memory.gif

Link to the song "Memory" from the musical "CATS".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-L6rEm0rnY

Verse I:

     We have noted repeatedly that there is a correlation between an extraordinary image and memory. It did not take long in class before someone decided to take on the task of memorizing "Kubla Khan" with the aid of music. Music has a nearly magical power of stimulating memory. I remember watching "School House Rock" and easily learning what a conjunction is and how our government passes laws. Dallas could not learn her multiplication tables no matter what I did until I found School House Rock had a cd with all she needed. After that it was easy. If you have never watched School House Rock, here are a links to a few; if you are already familiar with them chances are you are hearing them play in your mind right now.

http://www.postdiluvian.org/~gilly/Schoolhouse_Rock/pix/rocky.gif


"Conjunction Junction"-School House Rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODGA7ssL-6g&feature=fvst

"I'm Just a Bill"-School House Rock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0&feature=related


Verse II:

   My reason for choosing the topic of memory and music for today's blog is available in the link below. The link contains an article concerning the way music helps alzheimer's disease. If you do not have time to read the full article in the first link, please take a moment to watch the video contained in the second link which shows a man and the miraculous response he has to the music.
article:
http://www.npr.org/2012/04/18/150891711/for-elders-with-dementia-music-sparks-great-awakenings

video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZQf0p73QM

This is not the first story I have come across concerning the health effects of music on unresponsive or nearly unresponsive patients, but each time I am fascinated. Music stimulates the long term memory, according to the article, which allows what seems like magic.

Verse III:

    Ong would, of course, tell us that this is not a form of communication; music is a one-way street. I personally am not so sure of that. If we hear the music and we respond with an entire conversation that seems like more than a one-way route. Maybe it is more of a Cul-de-sac, but in my opinion there is a way in and out. The music flows into our heads, where we often take it into our hearts and there it is forever waiting to come back to us. This is a memory that is very easily stimulated, and since we associate other memories with songs, those come back as well.  For example, the following link will take you to the youtube video of the first song I remember playing "all by myself"; I was around three years old, I played it on my "Pocket Radio" which was exactly like the one shown here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh0mGlwxvKg


http://www.thisoldtoy.com/new-images/images-ok/700-799/fp764-eb85447481-b.jpg

The song brings back the memory of the toy which brings back the memory of playing the song repeatedly from Emigrant, Montana to Prosser, Washington which brings back more and more and more. You see? This one little song, which until recently I had never heard in it's entirety brings back years of childhood memories.

Verse IV:

   Since I have mentioned that music is very much like magic, you know I must bring up Bruno; as Yates did on page 228 when she explains, "The aim of the memory system is to establish this magical ascent within, through the memory based on the magical star-images". Bruno based his memory system on stars, but we seem to have a subconscious memory system based on music.When we hear a song that is meaningful to us, we experience this "magical ascent within".  Thinking of stars, magic and songs I remembered this:

song link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKh6XxYbbIc


http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YWLEvmtvL._SL500_AA300_.jpg



Chorus:

     Memories are automatically stored, but must be accessed as was discussed in Moonwalking With Einstein. The problem man has struggled with is how to access them at will, because memories are slippery objects at times. If we can grasp even a memory associated with the desired material, we can get there. Memory systems from the simple to the frighteningly complex have come and gone. Throughout time, we have  been fascinated with the way memory works and those who seem to have the gift to access any memory at will. As I have shown here, music makes an impact which can be used to stimulate memories. No matter which method is used, memories seem magical.

   I will leave you with one last song which is, "Candy Kisses". My Dad used to sing this song to me when I was a child (actually I think he sang a bit of it to me last week); when I was about seven he fibbed and told me he wrote it for me. This memory always makes me smile and after seeing the video of the alzheimer's patients I now doubt I will ever lose this memory which makes me ecstatic. The song at the beginning of this blog also has a memory I associate with it: my mother introduced me to this song, and when I hear it, I am standing there listening to it with her.

Song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dunpkos0q0

Mom and Dad on their 60th wedding anniversary last year:

    In case you missed it, I attempted to set up this blog as a song; not knowing much about music beyond listening for entertainment purposes, maybe someone can tell me if it worked.