Daily Assignment #79: Using Music in the Classroom

Using classical music in the classroom has many benefits for students. There is a phenomenon called the "Mozart Effect" where college students had "enhanced spatial task performance" after listing to Mozart's music.  On the other side, there are  studies that say listening to Mozart makes not difference in student performance.  For me, I found using music in the classroom helped to motivate students to complete their work.  I also used music during transitions, clean-up and any other times as it felt appropriate.  Using music in the classroom can make learning more enjoyable.


If you decide to use music in your classroom classical music is best.  Now having said that, you need to consider the age group of your students and match the music.  Whatever the music is that you select it should be an instrumental, otherwise the students will focus on the lyrics, and it should not be any faster than a heartbeat.  If you play fast music you will find that the students become hyped up, instead of calmer.  Also, you will find that the students will need a variety of instrumental music to keep them engaged.  Playing music from different genres is a great way for students to learn about various types of music, not to mention, culture and history. 


My class had a theme song it was Kermit the Frog's song "Rainbow Connection," as sung by Sarah McLachlan.  I also taught with a middle school math teacher who played "Hit the Road Jack", by Ray Charles, at the end of every class.  In fact, the 8th graders sang this song to him, in honor of his retirement, at their graduation ceremony.  It was fantastic!


Suggested music:


Music for visualization and imagery:    Beethoven    Symphony No. 6 (Pastorale)
                                                                     Debussy        The Sea; Nocturnes
                                                                     Listz              Hungarian Rhapsodies
                                                                     Mozart          Piano Concerto No. 21
                                                                    Tchaikovsky  Romeo and Juliet Overture
                                                                     Vivaldi           The Four Seasons


Music for focusing:                                  J.S. Bach         Brandenburg Concertos; The Well-        
                                                                                             Tempered Clavier
                                                                    Brahms            Violin Concertos
                                                                    Handel             Water Music
                                                                    Telemann        Concerto for 3 Violins and Orchestra


Music for calming:                                   Bruch               Scottish Fantasy
                                                                    Copland           Quiet City; Appalachian Spring
                                                                    Debussy           Clair de lune
                                                                    Kreisler            Humoresque
                                                                    Lee                    Parkening Plays Bach
                                                                    Wagner            Evening Star


Music to relieve tension:                       J.S. Bach           Air on a G String
                                                                   Debussy            Images
                                                                   Faure                Piano music
                                                                   Giuliani            Guitar Concertos
                                                                   Pachelbel         Canon in D


Music for celebration:                           Beethoven        Chorale Fantasy for Piano, Chorus &    
                                                                                                                             Orchestra 

                                                                  Verdi                 Grand March

Music for clean-up                                 Brahms             Symphony No. 3

                                                                  Berlin                Any selection

                                                                  Dvorak             Cello Concert

From:Accelerated Learning With Music:  A /Trainer's Manual, Terry Wyler Webb with Douglas Webb

I was going to do a video of me humming all of these but I thought a list would be better. 

LOL

One more tidbit---when you are ready to turn the music off, do not just turn the music off, slowly lower the volume until it is off.  

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Best Effort,

Linda103