The role of retrieval structures in memorizing music.

Full Abstract

This article explores the use of structure in the encoding and retrieval of music and its relation to level of skill. Twenty-two pianists, classified into four levels of skill, were asked to learn and memorize an assigned composition by J. S. Bach (different for each level). All practice was recorded on cassette tape. At the end of the learning process, the pianists performed their assigned composition in a recital setting. The performances were subsequently evaluated by three experienced pianists according to a standardized grading system. From the cassette tapes, values for the frequency with which pianists started and stopped their practice on "structural," "difficult," and "other" bars were obtained. Starts and stops on each bar type were compared across three stages of the learning process. The analyses reveal that all pianists, regardless of level, started and stopped their practice increasingly on structural bars and decreasingly on difficult bars across the learning process. Moreover, the data indicate that starts and stops increased on structural bars and decreased on difficult bars systematically with increases in level of skill. These findings are interpreted and discussed so as to elucidate characteristics of the retrieval structures adopted by musicians in their practice and performance and how the formation and use of retrieval structures develop as a function of expertise. Finally, the elicited values for starts on structural, difficult, and other bars are examined and discussed according to how they relate to the pianists' scores on performance quality.Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Williamon, Aaron (A); Valentine, Elizabeth (E);

Affiliation: Royal College of Music, London, United Kingdom. awilliamon(-atsign-)rcm.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Cognitive psychology (Cognit Psychol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Feb; vol 44 (issue 1) : pp 1-32

Dates: Created 2002/01/29; Completed 2002/04/16; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11814308, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Female
Humans
Learning

Male
Memory
Music

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.