Blog - Page 18 of 20 - Just Add Rhythm

Rhythm & Memory – Childhood lessons for improving your adult memory capacity

When I was in 7th grade, I remember having to learn a long list of prepositions overnight. Oh, the agony! How was I supposed to remember every single preposition and then regurgitate it all down on paper? I remember sitting at my kitchen table with the book open in front of me, and then pacing around as I wracked my brain to commit them to memory. The only thing that ended up working was a rhythmic memorization. When I went into school the next day, I confidently (and as quickly as possible) wrote down all the prepositions before they flew out of my head.

Throughout school, I often found myself utilizing rhythm in order to commit words, speeches, and tables to memory. It got me thinking…how intrinsically linked to memory is rhythm? How helpful can rhythm be in different populations?

Read below for 4 clinically studied benefits of rhythm on one’s memory – and consider drumming the next time you have a challenging work assignment!

Benefit #1: Rhythm can help you recall words and phrases

Several studies were conducted back in the 60’s and 70’s to determine the effect of rhythm on short-term memory. Subjects of various ages and abilities were asked to memorize word or number sequences, either semantically related (ie, table-chair) or semantically unrelated (ie, dog-mirror). In general, subjects who were given the opportunity to chant the words and/or tap their hands or feet to a basic pattern showed more recall than subjects who utilized a more conventional learning environment (read it here). Have you ever tried to memorize a short grocery list on your way home from work? I chant it over and over and tap softly on the steering wheel!

Benefit #2: Rhythm (and music) can help in language development

Do you remember singing lots of songs as a kid? Or, if you’re a parent, do you often pick your child up from school and hear her singing a new song she learned that day? I’m proud to say I still can memorize all 50 states today because of the “United States” song I learned in 6th grade! (still looking for a practical use for that) Singing and chanting are excellent methods for introducing new words and phrases to children. “Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November….” Research has also been conducted to determine how much language a fetus can hear and react to in utero – and it’s quite a bit!

Benefit #3: Rhythm can help ward off dementia and possibly slow some effects of Alzheimer’s – and help those who’ve suffered a stroke

There are a lot of music therapists and drum circle facilitators that utilize a hands-on rhythmic approach with these populations. Playing a drum in a social setting can have significant benefits for someone with memory loss, including communicating musically what you cannot express verbally, via an instrument.

How can it help ward off dementia or slow its effects? “‘Playing the drums makes the brain think in a way that very few activities can,’ said Pat Brown, International Drum Month chairman and Percussion Marketing Council co-executive director. Being able to understand musical notes and dissect how rhythms work and go together is a very complicated thought process.”

The process of drumming utilizes both the linear and creative sides of the brain. The simple act of hitting a drum with alternating left and right hand strokes engages the brain and makes a kinesthetic connection.

Susan Bock, MM, MT-BC, wrote about her experience facilitating at a camp for people who have suffered a stroke. She puts it beautifully when she describes the purpose behind the music: “The power of stroke camp is the power of stroke survivors and caregivers to persevere and again find their rhythm in life when it has been taken from them…music and rhythm give stroke survivors a chance to regain their sense of self among those who care and understand…[it’s] is the universal ‘glue’ that binds us all together and helps to regain the normalcy of life for those affected by stroke.”

Benefit #4: Rhythm can help relax the mind

You know that feeling when you’re trying to recall the name of the actor in that movie you saw recently and it’s on the tip of your tongue? Often when we try to recall information in a hurry, or in a stressful situation, it can be very difficult. You might be in the shower later that night and suddenly shout out “Gerard Butler!”

Why? Because you’re relaxed enough to remember. Drumming can help facilitate deep relaxation and lower blood pressure. A 2003 Remo Health Rhythms clinical study analyzed the effects of drumming on long-term care workers and reported a significant improvement in mood and a decrease in employee turnover that year. When you have a regular opportunity to relax and express yourself, you’re likely not only to be great at your work, but also to stay mentally and physically healthy later in life.

I didn’t know all this when I was learning prepositions, but these days I utilize rhythm and music for a variety of practical purposes, including remembering my gym locker combination, relaxing me when I’m feeling stressed, and keeping an even stride when I’m out for a walk. Hopefully it keeps my brain sharp into my golden years – and I hope it will help you too!

Curious about using rhythm to boost your employees’ productivity or to bring your group closer together? Contact us today!

Autism Then & Now – A critical look back at my childhood introduction to autism

When I was young, I used to love reading the Baby-Sitters Club book series by Ann M. Martin. I bought the books, checked them out of the library, and even dreamed of starting my own club.

Now, decades later, I have been thinking about just why I loved those books so much, and what lessons I learned from them. The over-arching theme of the series is acceptance – of all people, no matter who they are, even when they make mistakes. Shouldn’t we aspire to this as adults as well? During Autism Awareness month a few months back, I recalled one particular book in the series, about an eight-year-old girl with autism. It was my first introduction to autism, and here’s what I learned then and now:

Plotline

In The Baby-Sitters Club book #32, “Kristy and the Secret of Susan,” 13-year-old baby-sitter Kristy gets hired to baby-sit for an eight-year-old girl with autism named Susan. Kristy soon learns all about autism from Susan’s mother and from Susan herself, as well as from the kids in the neighborhood.

THEN – musical ability

Kristy discovers that Susan is largely non-verbal and can’t respond to questions the way most kids can. But, she has an amazing talent as a pianist, and can play and sing just about anything she hears – with the catch that she is memorizing it by rote, and doesn’t make sense of what she’s singing. At one point in the book, the record that Susan is listening to begins to skip, and she incorporates the skips musically into her piano playing and singing.

NOW

Today, children with autism are given increasing opportunities to explore the joys of music through more than just individual raw talent. Music for Autism is an organization that provides “autism-friendly” interactive concerts for children with autism and their families throughout the U.S. and U.K. Because many people with autism have specific sensitivity to certain sights or sounds, this population is typically unable to attend a regular concert where noise is discouraged.

Autism-friendly concert experiences are interactive and encourage a child’s natural reaction to something he sees or hears, in whatever verbal or physical form it may take, such as screeches of delight, hand clapping, or dancing in the aisles. Other cities and organizations are now offering “autism-sensitive” performances not only for children with autism but with other special needs as well, such as the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s autism-sensitive performance of “The Nutcracker.”

THEN – communication styles

Susan’s methods of communication, including tongue clicks and hand flapping, baffle Kristy at first, and leave the neighborhood children either confused or annoyed.

NOW

Families that have a child with autism learn how their children communicate their wants and needs. By integrating higher-functioning special needs children into mainstream classrooms or camps, typically developing students are introduced to children with all types of special abilities, and experience different methods of learning and communicating.

A process called Rhythmic Entrainment Intervention (REI) has been developed from centuries-old world drumming traditions, as a therapeutic technique for people with autism. REI research has shown that drumming certain rhythms can “reduce anxiety and improve language, eye contact and socialization in a child with autism.” The website includes an introductory video with testimonials from therapists, with one occupational therapist noting that the therapy gives clients a “groundedness, sense of organization, a good sense of self” (Kelly Zaros Berman, OTR).

THEN – acceptance & understanding

After several weeks of baby-sitting for Susan, and conducting her own personal campaign to integrate Susan into mainstream schooling and help her become “normal,” Kristy realizes that Susan’s autism will not go away, and that she can learn from and appreciate Susan exactly the way she is.

NOW

While the scientific community is still unclear about the specific causes of autism and Asperger’s, the social community is hard at work developing resources for families dealing with autism. Research shows drumming and music can offer a myriad of benefits to children with autism, from a calming influence to a behavioral diversion to a means of socialization with others.

An organization called Drumming for Autism states on its website that “some experts believe that drumming can help autistic children access different parts of their brains, specifically, their right-brain. The right-brains of humans are responsible for emotions, intuition, artistry and relaxation…it is possible, therefore, that drumming can provide a type of neurological repatterning for these children.” An article by a parent in the Orange County Register discusses the positive effect drumming has had on her son, and the great outcomes of UCLA’s Beat the Odds program, which “integrates activities from contemporary drum circles and counseling” without bearing the stigma of actual ‘therapy.’

Takeaways

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with children of many ages on the autism spectrum, both in musical and non-musical capacities. It can be frustrating to watch a child slip into a tantrum, or “get stuck,” as it is described in the amazing novel “Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend” by Matthew Dicks. I’ve seen firsthand that no amount of reasoning can resolve the tantrums.

But on a hopeful note, there are many families, teachers, and organizations out there who are working hard to understand this unique population and offer sustainable solutions for improving their options for learning, socialization, and leading a healthy, happy life. And rhythm, in many of its forms, can help to provide these benefits. Thank you, Ann M. Martin, for introducing me to autism with a compassionate and honest view so many years ago.

For information on autism, as well as resources, research, and local chapters, please visit the CARD (Center for Autism and Related Disorders) website.

National Stress Awareness Month – a simple shift

“Hectic,” “whirlwind,” “consumed,” “crazy,” “on the run,” “way too fast” – do any of these accurately describe how your life feels lately? Stress rears its ugly head.

In her book Overwhelmed: Work, Love, and Play When No One Has the Time, Brigid Schulte interviews Ann Burnett, who since the 1960’s has been chronicling how people describe their lives through holiday letters. The above descriptions have all become increasingly popular. After reading this article by Hanna Rosin, I decided to think about how the people in my world handle stress. What can we be doing more (or less) of?

Whether you’re a parent, a full-time employee, a student, or a ‘do-it-all-er,’ a simple thought shift just might do the trick.

The stress response

We are all aware of nature’s “fight or flight” stress response in animals, and that we humans also possess. Reactions to a fight or flight situation can include:

heart rate acceleration
flushing or paling of the complexion
constricting of blood vessels
shaking

But are all stress responses created equal? I’ve had these physical reactions occur before a simple audition as well as just before receiving some very bad news. In reality, the key lies in recognizing the response and how you handle it. A little bit of stress here and there can be a helpful thing that can propel you forward. But it’s the way in which we handle stress long-term that can affect our health positively or adversely.

Stress-related health complaints

WebMD claims that “stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.” We’ve all probably experienced a tension headache or difficulty breathing as a result of pressure. While there is no clear scientific connection between stress and ulcers, nervousness is certainly a contributing factor in many upset stomachs.

A simple shift

Let’s go back to the Hanna Rosin article. The solution is to make a simple shift in the way you approach your daily tasks. This shift is to stop telling yourself you’re too busy, and simply accomplish what you need to. Then, ask yourself what’s totally necessary and where you can replace “crappy bits of leisure time confetti” (Schulte’s words) with real, quality relaxation time.

There are many ways to do this, but since I’m a musician and facilitator, I’m inclined to tout the benefits of music. Relaxation is not just about fitting something into your day, like playing a game on your phone. It’s about adding up those bits of confetti and turning them into something with long-term benefits – like taking a class, learning a new skill, or scheduling an evening with family. So much research shows that incorporating music into your daily routine in some way can have significant health benefits.

If we can find the time to be as playful in our busy adult lives as most of us were in our childhoods, there’s no telling what we can accomplish.

An invitation for you

So, this month during stress awareness month, I invite you to critically examine your schedule. Identify at least 3 hours (separate or consecutive) of uninterrupted time in which to devote to your well-being. Check your city’s web page for rhythm and music events, plan an unplugged afternoon, or try a new activity. Not only will it be fun and relaxing, it will also contribute to being your best you in the future, if you keep it up. And, trust me on this one – go bang on a drum.