PLE 5 Chapter 6 Question 2 [Memory]

How might your knowledge of the memory processes guide your instructional decisions?

In the music classroom, memory can be a very important aspect of learning. It may not be as significant to memorizing math equations, historical dates or people for a standardized test, but encoding information for students in music will still benefit them in the long run.

Repetition is key. I like to think of Bruner's 'spiral curriculum' concept. 

Walker, Robert. Innovation in the Music Classroom: II The Manhattanville Music Curriculum Project. Psychology of Music, Vol. 12, No. 1, 25-33

Repetition is key and learning can be done by the sequence effect. I believe setting short term goals for information to be stored in students' minds will help them to rememeber musical concepts and skills, and repeating these skills on a daily information starts the memorization process. This will eventually be applicable as they move to each grade level. Applying music to stories and ideas has a successful impact in creating an aural image for student learning and can be easily retrieved because of its' uniqueness.