Music Evokes Memories

Let’s see how music might assist at home.

If you’re not a classical music fan (let’s face it; it’s an acquired taste), we can still use music. Our brains operate to a rhythm. They latch on and keep us engaged. Watch people at bus stops or on trains nodding their heads in time to the music in their earbuds.

You can play music next time you want your children to tidy their rooms. Yes, they’ll complain about cleaning. Play the music.

Whatever the excuse, play the music. In the room cleaning scenario, we need rhythmic. The more upbeat, the better. See how it goes. They might make a bigger mess. Or, to create space to move, they put things away.

Music also assists with studying. Something slower is needed here. If your kids know the songs, that’s okay. Play it in the background. Happy music gives our brains a shot of dopamine–the happy chemical. Calm, happy brains learn and retain more.

Music evokes memories. Remember that song you heard many years ago when something significant was occurring? The amygdala links the experience to the song. It creates a loop where the song triggers the memory. Or the memory triggers the song.

We associate songs with particular events. I was part of a group of six friends during my pre-service teacher training. We did everything together, including studying for exams. We used the idea of linking a song to a study topic. We recalled the relevant tune (and its related sub-concepts) during exams. The song united the memories.