Learning of a Novel Musical Tune in Diverse Age and Health Populations

Abstract

The learning of a musical tune recruits diverse learning pathways which are different from most learning objectives. It consists of numerous aspects to learn such as rhythm, notes, intervals, motor skills, and timing. Music successfully addresses motor abilities in various populations of people. However, little is known about how a combination of age and health factors affects the learning of a music tune. Here we explored the learning progression and motor development of individuals using a musical tune.
To learn more about the relearning aspect of music, participants with music experience in the past or present were chosen. In order to assess age and health factors as well as music knowledge within participants, an initial questionnaire was given to 2 participants with music experience and no health conditions and 2 participants with health conditions and no music experience consisting of specific questions related to musical experience. Participants were taught a novel musical tune across 5 10 minute
sessions consisting of 3 segments for each session. The sessions consisted of a teaching segment, a practice segment, and a playing attempt in which participants had 3 attempts to play the tune with less than 2 errors. EPM (errors per measure) was used to determine progress in learning the tune. EPM was compared with age and health factors, as well as music experience to determine the effect of the factors on learning of a musical tune. This study introduces a method that can quantify motor skills as well as learning progression which can prove conducive to diseases characterized by motor dysfunction such as neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s.