What is working memory and how might music learning help?
This article is a great explanation of working memory and the different ways it is affected by disorders such as dyslexia, auditory processing disorder and ADHD. Learning music has been found to be a great tool to improve working memory because it can rewire how memories are created and help students keep more information on their cognitive “scratchpads”.
“Everyone struggles with the limits of working memory sometimes — forgetting an item from a shopping list, or drawing a blank when you’re trying to remember the rules of a new game. But for kids with learning disorders, Hecker says, working memory often presents a more significant problem.”
This is another reason why learning a musical instrument can be an excellent tool to develop areas of the brain that impact general learning.
