This week we look at the final in a four part series on the importance of good memory for musicians. These are excerpts from a forthcoming book by Doug Oliver. Anyone interested in discussing these ideas &/or the book can contact the author, Doug Oliver or Neil Shedden.

Doug writes:
"I'm hoping that this chapter on memory will create some interest and that readers will then want to explore the other aspects of mind power that I discuss in my book. As of this point, the tentative title of the book will be "Mindpower for Musicians".

Doug's articles will cover:
1. A general memory primer: music and the need for strong memory
2. General memory improvement: common memory techniques
3. Specific memory improvement for musicians
4. Memory and diet / supplements

Make sure you have read the previous articles first:

MEMORY: A MUSICAL NECESSITY
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/001030/7.shtml

GENERAL MEMORY ENHANCEMENT
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/001106/9.shtml

SPECIFIC MEMORY IMPROVEMENT FOR MUSICIANS
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/001113/9.shtml

and now for this weeks...

MEMORY AND DIET / SUPPLEMENTS
Article Four: Diet, Supplements, and Miscellaneous items

In this, the last in the series of four articles based on the memory chapter of my upcoming book "Mind Power for Musicians", we'll discuss the very important aspect of brain chemistry. This is something that you definitely have control over through the chemicals that you put into your body when you eat and take supplements.

We've all been hearing a lot lately about "smart foods". It's probably no surprise that your mental clarity and sharpness has a lot to do with your nutritional habits and overall health. Eating junk foods and drinking beer for breakfast is simply the quickest way to weaken your mind and memory.

Lets start with diet. First, let me point out that I don't have the credentials to recommend any major diet changes or overall nutritional advice. What I'm going to suggest is simply a few additions to an already overall balanced diet. Before making any major changes in your diet you should always check with your doctor or nutritionist. This might sound corny and paranoid, but there's actually been many deaths due to people following diets that severely weakened their bodies immune system and overall health.

The following is a list of foods and supplements that have been scientifically proven to strengthen the brains electro - chemical efficiency and dramatically improve intelligence and memory. You can incorporate these into your diet:

Apples, lecithin, B complex (especially B-12), eggs, raisins, nuts, fish, yogurt, potatoes, soybeans, broccoli, zinc, vitamins E and C (specifically "Ester C"), gingseng, ginkgo biloba, calciun, amino acids(in addition to ones already listed),melatonin, choline, niacin, glutamic acid, Q-12, taurine, and about 8 glasses of water .

Its important to take these foods and supplements only in a balanced way and as part of an overall healthy diet. For the most part the vitamins and minerals listed can be found in a good multi-vitamin and mineral pill. If you really want to take full advantage of mind empowering foods and supplements, have a nutritionist design a mind power and memory enhancing diet. The mental sharpness you'll feel and the benefits to your playing will be well worth the $100 fee for the doctor.

Things to avoid are: excessive alcohol, excessive caffeine, marijuana, and smoking. I realize that these things may be hard for some people to quit, but at least reduce their use. It's a proven fact that the brains ability to absorb oxygen and nutrients is dramatically reduced by their use. I hate to sound preachy here, considering that I myself used to drink, smoke and party. But these things are major inhibitors of memory and overall mental sharpness. Sorry, but sometimes to achieve excellence at a certain activity, sacrifices must be made. And considering the importance of concentration and memory for musicians, you should really consider at least a major reduction of certain lifestyle habits.

In addition to nutrition, exercise is a very important thing for any musician to do on a regular basis. Aside from toning the nervous system and improving the flow of nerve impulses from mind to body, it will also improve the minds sharpness and memory.

Aside from the research that's been done on specific benefits to the mind from certain foods, there's also been major advantages in "physco - pharmaceuticals" , which is a hugh part of the overall medical and pharmaceutical industry. Many drugs have been developed to specifically enhance mental sharpness, memory, and focus, as well as emotional balance and coordination.

A brief list would include: RNA, Isoprinosine, Vasopressin, Hydergine, Sulbbtiamine, DHEA, and Deprenyl, to name but a few. Most of these are prescription drugs so if you were interested in trying a "smart drug", then perhaps a visit to the doctor / nutritionist can be a way to have a complete diet/supplement/pharmaceutical program safely designed for you.

Some people may think that this is taking the quest for musical excellence a bit too far, but why not take advantage of all that science has to offer. This could lead to a new level of "super musicians". Mozart may have been a natural musical genius and virtuoso, but with the aid of science maybe that degree of talent could be within the reach of all of us. Although tons of practice will still always be necessary.

For those of you who want more information about smart drugs, here's a newsletter that you can subscribe to: Smart Drug News , P.O. Box 4029 , Menlo Park, Ca. 94026. Telephone : (415)321-2374. And of course, a search of the internet will reveal a wealth of information on the subject.

Personally, I've found that just diet, supplements, and adjusting my lifestyle alone has resulted in improved memory and a nice sharp, clear mind. Although there are those who would disagree.

Well, that about wraps it up. By applying some, most, or all of the techniques and knowledge that I've presented in these articles, you will definitely see a dramatic improvement in your musical memory skills. There's no other art form that requires as much memorizing as music, so its an important power to develop if you truly want to become an excellent musician. The subject of memory is very inter-related to some of the other mental and physiological aspects of musicianship that I deal with in my book "Mind Power For Musicians". By learning and applying the various subjects of mind power that I've researched and conveyed in my book, there's no limit to the degree of excellence you can achieve that practice alone cannot offer. By developing aspects of mind power, you are creating a well rounded approach to improving your musical skill. What better way to improve skill than to improve the mental, physical, and physiological traits that enable you to have any skill to begin with.

(c) Doug Oliver 2000

This week we looked at the final in a four part series on the importance of good memory for musicians. These are excerpts from a forthcoming book by Doug Oliver. Anyone interested in discussing these ideas &/or the book can contact the author, Doug Oliver or Neil Shedden.

Doug's articles cover:
1. A general memory primer: music and the need for strong memory
2. General memory improvement: common memory techniques
3. Specific memory improvement for musicians
4. Memory and diet / supplements

Make sure you have read the previous articles:

MEMORY: A MUSICAL NECESSITY
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/001030/7.shtml

GENERAL MEMORY ENHANCEMENT
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/001106/9.shtml

SPECIFIC MEMORY IMPROVEMENT FOR MUSICIANS
http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/001113/9.shtml