Matthew Le 10 th Grade Rockdale Magnet School February 11 th, 2014 RMSST Student Showcase

  This project studied the effects of varying tempo ranges of music on teenage memory retention.  Previous studies on the effects of music on memory have found varying results.  Music has been seen to have no effect and a negative effect on memory retention. Introduction

  The hypothesis of this study was that a slower music tempo would have a positive effect on memory retention.  Participants were sampled from the Rockdale Magnet School.  Twenty-five participants were used in this study, split into five groups of five participants. There was one control group of no music, and four groups of experimental groups of the following music tempo ranges: BPM, BPM, BPM, BPM. Procedures

  Participants were given one minute to memorize ten groups of letter-numbers (A4, S2, F7, etc.) while music of a specific tempo range played.  After one minute, participants were asked to recall the pattern and record their recollection on a piece of notebook paper.  Their recollection was scored out of 10. Procedures (cont.)

  While there was a trend of the faster tempo ranges having a more beneficial effect on memory, this difference was not statistically significant after an one-way ANOVA test was run. Results

  The results may have been different if more trials had been run on the same people to more accurately determine if music tempo did have an effect on teenage memory retention.  However, these trends still may prove valuable to students to know which music may have the most beneficial effect on retaining memory. Results Continued IV Levels Mean (score out of 10) Standard DeviationNumber of Trials Control BPM BPM BPM BPM

  This study helped me progress as a researcher and develop my techniques and skills in research.  Further research could investigate the effects of different variables within music or different aspects of the human mind affected by music. Conclusions

  I would like to thank Mrs. Amanda Baskett in assisting me in researching this topic. I would also like to thank all those that participated in the study. Acknowledgements

  I am a flute player in the Conyers-Covington Community Orchestra and also play in the Wind Ensemble of Rockdale High School.  I also am the first chair flute player in District Honor Band this year.  I play both the flute and the piano.  I am ranked 10 th in the sophomore class out of 640. Accomplishments