Music has been shown over and over again to stimulate regions of the brain (eg memory, sensory, frontal cortex, etc) that other stimuli just cannot reach. One of the reasons we are so attracted to tune, melody and lyric is because our depth of engagement is so deep and strong. Music sparks and re-sparks very personal emotions and is thought to be one of the last things to fade from the memory of Alzheimer’s and dementia patients.
It is also a great example of microlearning.
Short songs (or even snippets) pack a big punch and, because of their links with memory, many of the thoughts, feelings and associations created on first exposure return every time we hear it again. We are once again in touch with the same thoughts, feelings and associations, deepening the groove of learning and (potentially) self-awareness.
I’m not suggesting an instructional designer should wrap notes around the how-to’s of, say, installing a dishwasher, but the awareness of how microlearning impacts us on a daily basis is a great reminder of just how prevalent it is and the diverse ways it is being used.
In the meantime, here’s a little “memory jolt” from my collection!
Saga – On The Loose