Have you ever walked into a room just to pause and realize you’re not sure why you’re there? Felt frustration start to eat at you as you try to remember where on Earth the keys could possibly be? If so, then rest assured, you are not alone. Perhaps the frustration of forgetting things is only heightened by how much of a shared experience it is. Nevertheless, for all the small things we forget, we do our best to hold onto the big moments. We take a second to feel the air around us, to remember the sights and smells as they are because things will never be this way again, a blessing and a curse all in one.
Though I’m still in my youth, I find that the older I get, the less I remember. Moments I used to recall with clarity have become nothing more than a familiar feeling, understandable yet nondescript, more like an idea than something that ever actually was. The more I feel it happen, the more cognizant of it I become. And in my best attempt to locate the keys, I fight to keep my memories alive. In doing so, I have found that music is one of the best methods for remembering.
The connection between music and memory has long been established, with a variety of different studies noting the correlation between the two. Oftentimes, it is found that music serves to enhance memories, something I have found true on a personal level. Recently, this idea became even more relevant when I got the chance to go to the Georgia Aquarium with a few friends.
As we walked through the aquarium, gazing at the whale shark and belugas, I began to take note of the music that was playing in the background at each exhibit. Though I was unable to figure out the names of any of the songs I heard, the effect that they had on the experience as a whole was not one I will easily forget. The calming, ethereal music that played while you looked at the whale sharks, contrasted with the upbeat music played during the dolphin show and the more simplistic music in the educational areas all combined to help set the mood of each exhibit. This got me thinking about the connection between music and memory again, as I tried to let the chord progressions sink into the folds of my brain to better remember the moment.
Doing so brought me back to a different memory, a trip I took nearly two years ago to the United Kingdom. I was there to play with my orchestra, and as such, all the pieces I played there became deeply associated with the experience. One piece, named Molly on the Shore (comp. Percy Grainger, Arrr. Sandra Dackow), was especially memorable, with it being my favorite of our sets. Even now, playing the notes reminds me of the hillsides of Scotland, green with white specks from all the sheep. In either case, music helped to supplement memory in a way I’m unsure any other element would have, and I find myself grateful for its effects.
So, the next time you find yourself in a situation you want to make sure you remember, try listening to your favorite playlist. Though you may not remember everything with perfect clarity, the heightened emotional experience will help encode the information in your brain, ultimately improving the experience.