Source: Erickson Institute

Here is a strategy that you can explore and adapt to your own learning adventures. It uses the power of rhythm to create attention and involvement. Rhythm exists in every cell of your body. There must be a deeper reason for our fascination and excitement when music grabs our attention so intensely. If a song does not have a catchy rhythm, we lose interest. This strategy uses that natural tendency to seek a continuous cycle, i.e., rhythm, in our absorption of knowledge. There is more to it, however, than just tapping your foot or hand.

While learning rote material, establish a rhythm that you will keep with your thumb, head, or foot, depending on your preference. Use a common rock rhythm that is a little faster than one beat per second. If the material is difficult to absorb, use a slower rhythm. Keep a rhythm that uses four beats, just like most songs, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, ONE… Keeping rhythm, run the item you’re learning through your mind. If it is long, use several rounds of four beats (measures).

Leave room for silence so that it soaks in and conforms to the measures. Silence is a very powerful part of music and the dramatic arts. It is literally part of the communication, and it is essential to make it compelling. Here is a rhythm learning example: If you were studying the cow’s anatomy, you might want to learn all the structures around the ear, the regio temporalis. That could be three beats with one left over to complete the four-beat measure: RE-gio TEM-por AL-is (beat). A long word or phrase can take up more than one measure. For example, processus zygomaticus osis temporalis could be PRO-CES-sus-ZY-GO-MAT-i-CUS (beat, beat). The lower case syllables are on the “upbeat,” which is in between the main beats. That means there are six beats for this one, plus two silent beats to finish the second, four-beat measure. That gives us eight beats, or two measures.

Once you have done the category, such as the region we just mentioned, you can chunk down to the specific structures or items in that category, maintaining the rhythm and including silences that make it complete.Stick with this for a specific set of words or concepts, and keep at it long enough to cover a defined area or topic of study, such as an anatomical region. See what effect this pattern has on your memorization ability. If you have music on that doesn’t go too fast, you can experiment with keeping to the rhythm of the music for variety.

It might even give you some rhythm ideas, especially in rhythm and blues. If you are a musical person, you can add a unique melody to each item, or even bring the items together into a song or improvised melody.