Tag: memory

  • Prized Pieces

    prized pieces

    As we near our 30th Reunion celebration (sign-up here if you haven’t already!), we start to think about all of our old favourite pieces, and which ones we hope to be singing in a few weeks time. There are many reasons why a piece of music might become a prized favourite, and sometimes the reasons can surprise us.

    #1. Memory:
    We have so many wonderful experiences in choir; meeting new people, encountering new music and new ideas, and all of the amazing experiences we have together – great concerts, and eye opening tours. Music can serve as a portal, to transport us back to the memory of those fun times. Often when we hear a piece of music, we associate it with the time in our lives when we first hear it, and loved it. Hearing that piece again returns us, often quite viscerally to the memory of that moment in our lives.

    #2. Meaning:
    Music can elevate our everyday experiences, by using poetry and musical nuance to enhance the way we think about things. Often song lyrics seem much more meaningful because of the metaphorical use of language. Changing your perspective can open your mind, and enhance your perspective on the world. Sometimes a piece of music truly speaks to us, tell us something about ourselves and the way we view the world, and the lyrics seem to be speaking directly to us, or about us. This is another reason a piece can become a favourite.

    #3. Mastery:
    We are very fortunate to have tackled some exceptionally difficult pieces of music in our 30 years at the CCC. One of the most amazing things about taking on difficult music (or difficult tasks in general) is the feeling of absolute elation you feel when you finally master the task. Working hard on something that is challenging is reward in and of itself; by pushing yourself just a bit more, you begin to see just how much you can accomplish. And mastering difficult pieces as a choir, as a team, is that much more rewarding. Some of our favourite pieces are the ones we found the most challenging, and ultimately the most rewarding!

    What are some of the pieces you’re hoping to sing/hear at our upcoming 30th Reunion celebration? Tell us in the comments below!

    Calgary Children's Choir

  • Math and Science In Music: Muscle Memory

    Math and Science In Music - Muscle Memory

    Music is such a wonderful pursuit for mind and body because it is not just an art form, but combines a myriad of other disciplines, including mathematics, biology, and physics. This series, Math and Science in Music will explore the many ways in which music incorporates a variety of these disciplines.

    MUSCLE MEMORY

     Our bodies are amazing at doing so many things. The physiological makeup of our bodies allows us to make music by playing instruments, or by using our voices. One of the most amazing aspects of these bodies is what is commonly referred to as ‘muscle memory’. This term can be a misnomer, because it does not actually mean that memories reside in your muscles.

    Instead, our brain has the ability to develop what are known as ‘procedural memories’, an ability which is developed through repetition. By practicing something over and over again, our brain develops synaptic pathways that allow our bodies to perform these tasks without conscious thought.

    For musicians, muscle memory can be a tremendous boon. Instrumentalists develop the ability to play scales and other technical aspects of music without conscious thought. Making the technical aspects of musicianship a ‘procedural memory’, allows musicians to focus on the artistic expression of their music. It is also what allows them to learn and remember massive amounts of musical data; so much so that a professional musician can sit down at a piano years later and still play a piece they haven’t performed for many years.

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    One caveat about muscle memory is that the synaptic pathways do not distinguish between good playing, and poor playing. If you repeatedly practice a scale or a piece incorrectly your brain with put those errors into your procedural memory, and it can be very difficult to ‘un-learn’ those mistakes.

    What other effect does physiology have on music? Tell us in the comments below!

    Calgary Children's Choir