 |
printer friendly | |
 |
Model | |
 |
Resources | |
 |
||
 |
Community | |
 |
Additional Learning Opportunities |
|
 |
Site Map | |
 |
Home | |
|
|
||
<--
Back to Classroom Applications Page
Using
Music in the Classroom
Skip
to Rationale
Skip to Materials
Skip to Process
Strategy Rationale
--Using music in our classes and learning environments has several benefits, such as promoting a relaxed emotional state, stimulating the brain to be creative, or aiding in memory formation. Click here to see a full discussion of the use of music to enhance learning.
Materials
CD
or tape player
CD's or cassette tapes
Process
It's important to select music appropriate for the learning activity in the classroom. The following list is not intended to be complete, but rather to give examples of types of music that can be used effectively.
Opening
music
Relaxation, Concentration or Visualization
Breaks and Transitions
Community Building
Background music for concentration, quiet activities
Brainstorming or Creative Problem Solving
Celebrations
End of Session
Personal Favorites
To begin a learning session, use lively, cheerful music:
Divertimentis, Mozart
Thus Sprake Zarathrustra (2001 Theme)
Blue Danube, Strauss
Fantasia, Disney
Suites for Orchestra, Bach
Toy Symphonies, Haydn
Musical Joke, Mozart
Desert Vision and Natural States, Lanz and Speer
Bolero, Ravel
Well-Tempered Clavier, Prelude in D Major, Bach
Hungarian Dances, Brahms
Movie Soundtracks:Chariots of Fire
Superman
ET, Rocky
Lawrence of Arabia
Born Free
Dr. Zhivago
Oh What a Beautiful Morning, Oklahoma
All James Bond 007 soundtracks
To create a relaxed atmosphere or for visualization activities :
Silk Road, Kitaro
All recordings of Daniel Kobialka
Sea Peace, Georgia Kelly
All four of the " Seasos" recordings, George Winston
All recordings, Steven Halpern
Trois Gymnopedies, Eric Satie
Barefoot Ballet, John Klemmer
Classical guitar
Classical piano music
To signal a break or transition from one activity to another:
Hooked on Classics, Philadelphia Harmonics
1812 Overture, Tchaikowsky
William Tell Overture, Rossini
Peanuts Theme, Giraldi or Benoit
Rawhide Theme
To accompany community building activities (ie., get to know each other activities):
Disney soundtracks
Hap Palmer songs
Hokey Pokey
Million Bottles of Beer
Camp songs--ie., She'll be Coming Around the Mountain
As background music (using low volume):
Divertimento for Strings, K. 136, Mozart
Four Seasons, Vivaldi
Water Music, Handel
Brandenberg Concertos, Bach
For brainstorming and creative problem solving:
Piano Concerto #5, Bethoven
Swan Lake, Tchaikovsky
Etudes, Chopin
Claire de Lune, Debussy
Piano Concerto # 26 & 27, Mozart
- To celebrate:
- To end a session:
Three Dog Night, Celebrate, Madonna
We will Rock You, We are the Champions, Queen
Grand March from Aida, Verdi
The Creation and the Seasons, Hayden
Celebration, Kool and the Gang
Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah, Handel
Fanfare for the Common Man, Arron Copeland
Rocky Theme, Bill Conti
Theme from Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark
What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
Theme from Happy Days
Happy Trails, Roy Rogers
These suggestions are a compilation of suggestions from Rhythms of Learning (Brewer & Campbell), Joyful Fluency (Dhority & Jensen), and Super Teaching (Jensen)
Peronal favorites (CD sets I've enjoyed using):
Music for Concentration, Advanced Brain Technologies (Availabe from the Brain Store)
Music to De-Stress, Advanced Brain Technologies (Availabe from the Brain Store)
Music for Productivity, Advanced Brain Technologies (Availabe from the Brain Store)
Music to Relax, Advanced Brain Technologies (Availabe from the Brain Store)
Music for the Mozart Effect, Spring Hill Music
Music for Accelerated Learning, Steven Halpern, Open Channel Sound Co.
Mozart Morning Meditation, Phillips Classics Productions
Mozart on the Menu, Phillips Classics Productions
Mozart for Your Mind, Phillips Classics Productions
Music for the Spirit, Domo Records
Classical Music for your Active Lifestyle, Delta Music, Inc.
Tips
*While music can promote brain activity that enhances learning, it is important to value the unique learners in our classrooms when we use music. For some, it may be distracting or interfere with learning. We need to be sensitive to the needs of all of the students in our classes. Ask for feedback from the students on your use of music.
*Music should be used judiciously. Brewer and Campbell (1991) recommend that music be played no more than 30% of the instructional period.
.
Dialogue!We suggest using music to enhance the learning experience in many of our learning activities. Annette has compiled this list to assist teachers in selecting the most appropriate music for their particular situation.
As always, whenever we use music, we need to be sure that we are considering the three components of our model and that the music does in fact promote learning.
Click here to email Annette questions, comments, and suggestions.