arts integration

The Benefits of Music in Your Classroom: Boosting Learning

My piano practicing partner.

Today, I want to blog about boosting learning: the benefits of music in your classroom. When I was a child I had a beloved Beagle,  Frisky John, who we discovered loved to sing while I practiced the piano. I don’t know if my mother and Frisky got together and conspired to get me to practice every day, but as long as Frisky was sitting by me, I practiced! Can your dog sing on command?

With and without Frisky, I have loved music my entire life.  It is not uncommon for me to listen to several genres of music every day. Listening to  classical music to Broadway, solo singers like Joni Mitchell to pop singers like Taylor Swift enriches my day.  Above all, music is essential to my soul.  It heightens my mood, helps me concentrate, destresses and allows me to go somewhere else in my day dreams.

Nearly every day, I hear another teacher worried about their students lack of engagement in the learning.  Usually, when a teacher asks for suggestions to boost student engagement, I first suggest they integrate drama into their classroom.  It’s much easier than you think, too.  You can learn about that here: How to Excite Students With Drama Integration

The Power of Music in the Classroom: How Music Benefits Students’ Learning

I am going out on a limb here.  Also, I  think if you can incorporate music into your lessons, a teacher will find it helps to students learn.  What, you say? Hear me out. When I taught theater, no matter the grade level, I always played music in the background.  Generally, we listened to classical music which was serene. (Remember, I use music to relax me.)  Sometimes I played film scores when the students were working on their own. 

Depending upon the energy level I required from the students, I’d play particular songs that boosted students’ energy.  If they were too wound up, I’d play something more calm.  Usually, they kicked into the energy level I required. If you’d like a lessons about movement, check it out here: Movement Lesson

Enhancing Learning Through the Power of Music

Adding music to the mix can be a game-changer. Music has a unique way of activating various parts of the brain. Moreover, it can create a learning environment that fosters focus, creativity, and emotional regulation—all essential for academic success. Again, just like drama, the transition to playing music in the classroom is seamless and always fun.

Let’s explore how using music as a learning tool can help transform your classroom.

Enhances Focus and Attention

Music can be an excellent tool for focusing students’ attention.  For instance, its useful when transitioning between activities or during individual work time. According to the National Library of Medicine,  studies have shown that background music can improve concentration. By providing a steady rhythm, music supports cognitive tasks. Interestingly, this is especially true for extrovertive personalities. 

Introverts may enjoy soft classical music or instrumental tunes work well as background music. Additionally, they help students tune out distractions and channel their energy toward the task at hand. My students always enjoyed Thomas Newman’s film track from Finding Nemo.

Reduces Stress and Creates a Calming Atmosphere

For many students, school can be a source of stress, and music offers a natural way to create a calming atmosphere. For instance, when playing soft and soothing music during challenging times, it can lower stress and anxiety levels. This calming influence helps students approach learning with a relaxed mindset.  Thus, music boosts their ability to retain new information.

In an article on   www.nature.com  music in particular has been proposed as a promising tool to explore imagination, as more than 70% of music listeners indicate that they experience visual imagery when listening to music. It has even been found helpful in treating patients with traumatic event disorder. Check out this blog post about Arts Quote We Love #4–Civilizations Remembered for Their Arts

Inspires Creativity

When I begin planning a play that I will be directing, I first pick out music for the production. This helps me in two ways. First, it quickly kicks me in to the mood of the production.  Secondly because of its positive distraction, I more easily harness my ideas.   I listen to many pieces of music every day.   Consequently, while listening  my imagination soars. By seeing with my “mind’s eye”, I find it effortless to picture what the production will look and feel like.

Since music is a form of art, incorporating it into the classroom encourages students to think creatively. Music is useful in every classroom. Whether used as a warm-up for a creative writing session or as background music for art projects, music can spark students’ imaginations.

For example, playing different genres of music might inspire students to create stories. Furthermore, visual artwork can be based on the emotions or images that the music evokes. It can’t help but broaden their creative horizons. One of my favorite pieces to use is Holst’s, The Planets.

Builds Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity

I am always looking for ways to engage students.  By engaging them, I believe they will learn. One of the best ways to expose students to cultures is through music.  For example, a diverse range of music from around the world helps them appreciate and respect different cultures. By using music from various traditions, teachers can create an inclusive classroom environment quite effortlessly. 

By listening to music from many cultures students learn to value diversity and  cultures. One group I always played was Ladysmith Black Mambazo. This musical exploration can lead to discussions about cultural backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives. By enriching students’ worldviews their appreciation for diversity grows. A film score I would have used is  The Black Panther , The Water Fall scene.

Boosts Memory and Retention

Have you ever heard a song from your high school years and you were immediately pulled back in your memory to those times? Me, too. Music has been shown to improve memory retention. Setting information to music can be a highly effective mnemonic tool.  This works especially for younger students.

My personal favorite music are the songs from Schoolhouse Rock such as I’m Just a Bill!  In fact, teachers can create simple songs for memorizing multiplication tables, vocabulary words, or historical dates. I remember our daughters learning a song about the state capitols–State Capitols Song. This “music in your classroom” approach helps students retain information long-term and makes learning more enjoyable. That’s the key here, friend.

Improves Language Skills

As you might expect, Language and music share common neural pathways.  In a 2017 study shared on Sciencedirect.com, a group of scientists found that making music is an effective way to enhance language development. By listening to songs with rich vocabulary, rhythm, and rhymes a student can improve language comprehension and vocabulary. 

Especially, this is useful for students learning a new language. Incorporating music into reading activities, for example, by using song lyrics as reading material, provides a fun way to strengthen literacy skills. Have you ever assigned your students to perform a “songologue”? Check out this article in dramatics.org.

Encourages Positive Classroom Behavior

Using music strategically can help manage classroom behavior. For instance, playing upbeat music during clean-up time. Plus, using it for  transitions can make routine tasks feel more enjoyable. Generally, I find students participate enthusiastically. You can even use music as a cue, signaling that it’s time for a specific activity.

One of my favorites things to say to students while they are working is, “When you hear ‘Shark bait, who haha”, it’s time to stop.  With time, students learn to associate certain music with certain activities.  This helps with classroom routines and behavior management. I say…whatever it takes to make it easier on your and fun for your students is the right tool for me!

Tips for Using Music in the Classroom

Lastly, here are a few suggestions of mine how to uses music in your classroom:

1. Choose Music Purposefully: First, think about the goal—whether it’s focusing, energizing, or calming students—and select music accordingly.
2. Set the Volume Appropriately: Background music should be subtle, not distracting. However, make sure it’s low enough to allow for easy conversation and focus.
3. Experiment with Genres: Don’t limit yourself to one style! From classical and jazz to world music, try various genres to see what resonates best with your students.
4. Create a Playlist:  Having a playlist ready can save time and ensure a smooth transition between activities. Plus, consider creating different playlists for different parts of the day or tasks.
5. Be Mindful of Lyrics: When possible, use instrumental music or songs with positive messages. Consequently, this will aid you maintaing a respectful and inclusive atmosphere.

As you might expect, I’m listening to music right now as I write this.  Today, I feel like listening to the film score of Dune.  I hope I’ve convinced you to experiment with music in your classroom.  Personally, to me it’s like icing on the cake!

Do you use music in your classroom?  I’d love to know about it.  Feel free to email me at DhcBaldwin@gmail.com