How Musicians Process Information

In our everyday activities, all of us learn and process information either simultaneously or sequentially. This perceptual-cognitive theory was developed by Alexander Luria (1966) and later expanded by Das (1979) and Naglieri and Das (1997).
When musicians look at a triad they quickly recognize its shape and its inversion (spatial configuration). They see it as a whole, all at once. This is an example of processing information simultaneously. In order to spell such triad (and scales), musicians have to use their sequential processing skills (linear approach).
The speed of information processing skills is an essential component to learning and reading and can be improved by doing the appropriate exercises. “It can be shown that increases in processing speed are linked to increases in other cognitive domains, which include sight-reading” (PTS II Documentation and sight-reading).


According to the authors, the exercises presented on the PTS II program are designed to enhance Information Processing Skills, Temporal Visual Processing skills and Rapid Automatized Naming skills.

Information Processing Skills is the ability our brain has to recognize, understand, stores and responds to information collected by our five senses. (article)

Temporal Visual Processing (TVP) is the means by which musicians process brief short stimuli and rapid sequences of information during sight-reading. TVP is responsible for the manner musicians make choices and prioritize information. Such choices vary from identifying and individualizing single notes to perceiving large stimuli presented in sequences such as chords, scales, accompaniment styles, arpeggios, etc. TVP also controls the musician’s capacity to change fixations form note-to-note, beat-to-beat, and so on. Improvements on this area result in more fluency and better comprehension. Even a small deficit on TVP can compromise reading ability, can cause loss of place while reading, visual fatigue, slow reading speed, symbols overlapping, lack of comprehension and frustration. (PTS II)

Rapid Automatized Naming (RAN) is the ability to recognize and name harmony, notes, accompaniment patterns, sequences and rhythms in a fast an accurate way.