Final answer:
The inability of a child to recall a piece of classical music she did not intend to memorize demonstrates transience, the fading of unused memories over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
A child who is unable to recall a piece of classical music when asked to play it on the piano because she did not intend to memorize it exemplifies the concept of transience, which is one of Schacter’s forgetting errors. Transience refers to the fading of memories over time, particularly when the information is not used or rehearsed. This can happen to anyone, including those with knowledge of piano and music. The child might have had an understanding of the music piece but without intention to keep the memory, with time, the details fade.
Another related concept is persistence, which is the continual recollection of unwanted memories that can interfere with the capacity to focus on other tasks. This is actually considered an error of the memory system, rather than an ability, as it involves involuntarily recalling memories, often unpleasant ones. It is different from transience because it deals with memories that are involuntarily retained rather than forgotten.