As recently as a few centuries, the oral tradition was the main tool for the transmission of knowledge. With writing and modern technology, this intangible heritage is preserved more securely, but somehow they have led to a decrease in our ability to retain quickly. Would you like to improve your musical memory? Don't miss these tips.
Learning song lyrics is a part of our history
From long ago, myths and legends of the villages have been passed from generation to generation, transformed in songs, and its perpetuity depended largely on the memory of those who sang them. For this reason, those who had the ability to memorize a song aroused the curiosity of the rest of the group that wanted to know the details of the story that he or she had managed to retain in his memory.
Nowadays, learning the lyrics of a song has a purpose almost always more pragmatic, but it has not lost that touch of romanticism of its origins. Memorize the notes of a score and the letter of a composition remains today one very creative activity that professional singers have to face on a regular basis to perform his work properly.
Memorizing a song: focus and visualization
The most appropriate method to learn lyrics is something very personal. As in any other study technique, it involves issues closely related with the personality of the subject and its skills at the time of retain concepts, sounds and messages.
But beyond these peculiarities that make different the memory of each singer, are there foolproof tips that work with the same efficiency in all people:
Listen to the lyrics of the song: seems rather obvious, but it is not the same to hear or to listen. When we listen we pay attention intentionally to that sound stimulation and are able to extract the essence of the message: What's it talking about? To whom is it directed? Who is singing?
Extract the soul of what we hear: it consists of a step beyond the words and get to that place where the language does not operate, but the feeling. What emotions do we experience when listening to this song?
Music and lyrics, two independent entities: yes, at the end of the process they are part of the same unit, but until you establish that connection, are you able to think of them separately? It is a good method to find out if your memory works faster with the melody or lyrics.
Best written down: when you start humming smoothly music and words come at the tip of the tongue, feel free to write them. It doesn't matter that you don't remember the exact order. You will be viewing it as the song resonates in your memory.
Be a mental singer: those who sing on a regular basis with the mouth closed are who are easier to learn lyrics. The mind seems to transform into a kind of karaoke and allows you to focus on song as if you truly had it in your thoughts.
Do all singers learn equally?
The memory tricks that we have quoted are applicable to all singers. However, to be most effective it is important to know what's your learning style. Thus you can better tune in the choice of your method for memorizing a song.
Hearing students: they are those who memorize better through sonorous stimuli. Listen over and over again the song is great for them.
Visual students: they are quick to establish a connection between images and sounds. They memorise before a song when they use tools such as music videos or concept associations.
Textual students: the lyrics are recorded in their memory like the pages of a book, but to do this they need to write them in their own handwriting on paper.