Muscle Memory – What is It and How Does It Work?
VOICE NOTES
By Susie Glaze
Number 3, May 23, 2021
From Wikipedia: Muscle memory is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition, which has been used synonymously with motor learning. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed with little to no conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Muscle memory is found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding bicycles, driving motor vehicles, playing ball sports, typing on keyboards, entering PINs, playing musical instruments, martial arts, and dancing.
Oxford University Article : https://medium.com/oxford-university/the-amazing-phenomenon-of-muscle-memory-fb1cc4c4726
From the above information, I think you can tell what the concept of muscle memory is and how to achieve it. But what is the purpose of muscle memory in the service of music? Is it a process that could create ease of function, i.e., making it easier for you to remember the chord progression or lyrics of a song? Or, is it a “crutch” we lean on when we want to go on “autopilot?” Could this autopilot turn into a situation where you’re less aware of where you are in a song and simply “zone out”?
To me, muscle memory is a really important tool. I think there is a very good reason to employ muscle memory in the voice, ESPECIALLY where mechanics are concerned. I’ve suggested many times that you make your physical mechanics a “new autopilot” when you go to sing, making sure your breath is intentional so the air support is there, and drop the relaxed jaw to make the resonating chambers available. This can be part of a muscle memory. But for the song itself, the process always allows me to memorize effectively, and with proper repetition, we get this memory literally in the mouth. This freedom then allows my imagination to run with the ideas, visuals, and emotions in the song.
Make a point to memorize your songs, and you will feel the balancing act between using muscle memory and soaring on the wings of your imagination to find the heart of the story. See you next time for a discussion about performance anxiety, applying dynamics, authentic emotion and more! Thanks for joining me!
Susie