Human memory is an interesting area of psychological study. It is important to understand how memory works because it not only helps humans drive forward such as passing tests, but also allows us to retain pleasant and amusing thoughts. Memories can decay, meaning that they fade over time. Although some memories fade (often the sensory or short-term memories) some memories are retained deep in our brains (Lilienfeld, 248). Sometimes these thoughts are bad memories, other times good.
It is important to understand how to retain these useful memories to the point where they could possibly go from a short-term memory to a long-term. One way to do this is through rehearsal. Rehearsal is repeating the information repeatedly, or even aloud. I have found this technique to retain a memory very useful by simply repeating the phrases or fact, or by just thinking of it frequently. I am currently initiated into a business fraternity, and I think that some of the memories that I have experienced in my close past should definitely be retained, and rehearsal is how I will achieve this just by thinking about it. (Lilienfeld, 252).
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQxzo12gPbdNJYEzCP_cNz6NIa46zAtAAuCaCaoWT90sXbNRf-uMBd4i8CP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grZuwo_YlY0
Great point by using rehearsal to remember information! That is definitely useful as a musician- One simply cannot look at a piece of music and memorize it in that instant (unless you're a genius or something..) Instead, the music should be rehearsed basically every day. Same goes for studying to retain the information correctly. Cramming for a test the night before or the day of the test will not be effective to retain all the information you need to know. The brain is so tricky...