SOSC1960 Discovering Mind and Behavior

Assignment 1

Memory

Name: Lee Kevin

SID: 20195502
Email: kleeah@stu.ust.hk
Date: 18/7/2014

Scenario:
I have been a private piano “teacher” for my young cousin since October. Last
month, my cousin has started the preparation for her piano grade2 examination.
Unexpectedly, her curiosity encouraged me to play one chapter of my ABRSM
piano, grade8 examination immediately for leisure, which I have recited 3 years ago.
Indeed, I made lots of mistakes as I have forgotten some parts of the melody. After
that, I studied the music sheet and now I can play it well without the sheet.

Theory Why You Forgot How You Could Have Avoided

Levels of processing Before I learned how to play
the song, I read the music
sheet rather then listening
to the music to recite the
melody of the song.(“King of
the day”,1962) Besides, I
merely remember the exact
notes but I practice by
remembering the
associations with my hand-
movement and beats.
Therefore, the lack of
processing the tones of all
the notes led to forgetting
the melody.
Decay I have had my grade8 piano
examination 3 years ago,
which I have recited all the
songs while practicing them
everyday. Otherwise I
cannot recite all notes.
After I have passed the
examination, I did not
review the sheet until
teaching those students
recently. My memories of
the melody of those songs
have eventually
Forgetting
Everyone has his own method to
learn music.(“Suzuki method”,
n.d.) In this case, I tried to recite
all the notes by reading.
However, this type of processing
may not be accurate as some
important notes may be impaired.
By combining different learning
methods, like listening, which is
mnemonic as it helps recalling
melodies, I may increase the
intensity of the initial music
processing to aid anchoring my
memories.
After I have passed my
examination, although practicing
old songs was not useful, I
should have kept practicing all
the songs after I have read and
recite the music sheet in order to
maintain the highest quality of
performance.
 disappeared.
Interference The song was written in I may compare and contrast the
Modern period(“King of the music sheet with similar
day”,1962), which I have performance style on the cords of
played lots of similar Jazz the melody. Hence, by
after my examination. All of associating with the cords,
these songs focus on the rhythm and accents to
right hand melody and the specialized each song,
left hand rhythm in retroactive interference of the
presentation (Defining Jazz, melody can be reduced.
n.d.). When I was playing
and retrieving the melody
and accents of the song,
the melody was interfered
with Jazz I have listened,
which Retroactive
interference was present.
Cue-dependent Since I have passed the I may listen to or play the old
forgetting grade8 examination, I did songs occasionally, which both
not plan to obtain a higher sounds waves and fingering
level. Hence, I seldom serves as retrieval cues. They
have chances or reasons to helps retrieving the melodies and
play that song again. beats of songs
Therefore, due to lack of
practicing and listening to
that song, which can be the
retrieval cues, I forgot the
melody.

Word count (max. 500): 495

References, if any:

ABRSM (2011) ABRSM: selected Piano exam pieces 2011&2012: C:3, “King for a Day”,
Dave Brubeck (1962), (pp.AB3551).

Suzuki method. (2014, June 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:30, July
18, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_method.

Defining Jazz: The Swingin' Thing. (n.d.)-The DUMMIES. Retrieved from

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/defining-jazz-the-swingin-thing.html.

Appendices, if any: