Music
Too often music is talked about as though it were the essence of the accelerated learning methods. It is not. In the context of accelerated learning it is a tool that can be used to enhance aspects of the learning experience. Music on its own does not provide a short cut to enhanced academic ability, but when used in very specific ways it can be invaluable.
In this section we offer some uses, some specific applications and some suggestions of musical pieces to use in your classroom.
Music Categories
Beginnings
Music has a powerful influence on mood and atmosphere. As the students arrive in the classroom, appropriate entry music can be played to create the right atmosphere for the work to follow.
Click here for some great pieces to start the lesson in the right mood
Demarcation of time on task
You can use music to set up a timed challenge. Set a challenge for the class such as: 'For the duration of this piece of music, I'd like you in pairs to think of as many words as you can about the topic we did last week. The music is the "Theme Tune" to Mission Impossible. It lasts three minutes and that's how long you have.' Or use a piece of music to provide a more relaxed time frame for an activity.
Click here for some suggestions of pieces for time demarcation
Enhancing a mood
Music can be used to make a qualitative change in the atmosphere in the classroom. For example, when celebrations are taking place in the ALPS classroom, an appropriate piece of accompanying music anchors the experience, such as the pop group Queen and their song 'We Are The Champions!'
Click here for a list of highly effective mood-enhancing pieces
Energisers
When you wish to tidy the classroom quickly, Rossini's William Tell Overture can help to speed the class along. Handel's The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, Orff's Carmina Burana, or Bamboleo by the Gypsy Kings are definitely energising!
Click here for further suggestions of truly energising pieces
Relaxers
If you wish to relax after PE, or before the class begins a piece of creative writing, try listening to music to relax and change the children's mood. There are some wonderful classical pieces you can use to help the class to relax, or some modern pieces such as Annie Lennox's Why.
Click here for some more relaxing pieces
For guided visualisations
Music can be used to enhance guided visualisations. The music provides the background for relaxation and helps children to focus on the visualisation. Debussy's Clair de Lune, Mozart's Il Andantino - Concerto for Flute and Harp or even the theme from The Deerhunter are great choices.
Click here for more pieces for guided visualisations
As an aid to discussion
On a very practical level, music can be used for background to provide an appropriate atmosphere for discussions in class. When you lower the volume of the music, the level of noise in the class goes down accordingly.
Click here for some suggestions of appropriate pieces
Evocation of a theme
A theme being explored in class can be enhanced by related music. Period music from the time of the Tudors and Stuarts could be used as a stimulus activity, or as an accompaniment to artwork, or used as part of review of content.
Click here for some suggestions of appropriate pieces
Active concert
This is a specific application of music in relation to accelerated learning. The teacher reads information to the class whilst dramatic and emotionally engaging music is played. The best time to do this is after you have given the Big Picture and before detailed work begins. Your voice should 'surf' the music, rising and falling appropriately whilst the pupils follow the information in written form. The music creates emotional associations and simultaneously connects the left and right brain. Music by Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Haydn is suitable, whilst some more contemporary pieces can be used with effect.
Click here for some more ideas
Passive concert
This is another specific application of music in relation to accelerated learning and it is used following the active concert. The passive concert can take place as a review at the end of the session. The material presented can be the same as the active concert but the method of presenting it and the intended outcome differ. The pupils settle into a state of 'relaxed awareness' whilst listening to slower pieces of music such as some baroque pieces with less rigorously structured qualities. Pupils should listen to the music, whilst you read naturally. The passive concert is a concluding activity intended to encode and sublimate the material into the brain.
Click here for some suggestions of appropriate passive concert pieces
To enhance Brain Breaks
Music can appropriately accompany the physical activity of a brain break. Compilations of current pop pieces are good here, with plenty of choice from bands such as S Club 7 (Don't Stop Movin' is a great choice!). You could go for some pop classics like James Brown's I Feel Good, The Eagles' Take it Easy or even Abba's Dancing Queen.
Click here for more ideas for Brain Break pieces
Endings
There are two possible applications for using music for endings. First, for practical purposes like 'tidy ups' use upbeat and humorous pieces: 'No one can finish doing the class tidy up until the music stops.' Use the music to change the atmosphere, elevate the mood and get the jobs done more efficiently. Second, use music to provide a sense of closure. As you review the day or introduce the To Do list for the next day, ending music can help ritualise the moment. Use familiar pieces to embed this sense of completion.
Click here for suggested Endings pieces
To enhance the ability to store and retrieve information
Content is more readily recalled when learned to musical accompaniment. There are many familiar tunes that can be used for learning key facts to music, or you can compose tunes yourself. Once children are familiar with this activity, they can create their own rhymes to music to accelerate their learning. Tunes such as The Grand Old Duke of York, One Man Went to Mow and Ten Green Bottles are perfect for this activity.
Click here for an example of how music can be used to carry content
There are more examples of how music can be used in the classroom in the following books:
The Alps Approach
The Alps Approach Resource Book