While you may already use a litany of strategies to conduct your students academically and behaviorally, the following are instances when you can use music to fine tune your classroom.

<p>
  As an educator you serve as the maestro of a class (the word maestro even
  comes from the Latin word for teacher). You conduct the students so that they
  can perform harmoniously with their peers, and you praise students when they
  shine in their solo efforts throughout the day. You help them to course
  correct when they fall off the beat of the room. Some of you even compose your
  own lessons with activities for students to perform. And while you may already
  use a litany of strategies to conduct your students academically and
  behaviorally, the following are instances when you can use music to fine tune
  your classroom.
</p>

<ul>
  <li>
    <i> Transitions -</i> Helping students find their rhythm during transition
    periods can be difficult regardless of the grade level. Using music to cue,
    time, and ease transitions is an incredibly effective technique.
  </li>

  <li>
    <i>Call-and-Responses -</i> As an educator it can be difficult to get a
    large group of students to stop the cacophony of an activity and quickly get
    them to march to the beat of your instructional drum. The attention grabber
    style of call and responses can allow for an enjoyable, quick, and even
    musical way to get students to be in harmony. While not all
    call-and-responses are musical, many memorable ones are.
    <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujlsMsPXc1g" target="_blank"
      >See CCE’s YouTube video on Attention Grabbers</a
    >.
  </li>

  <li>
    <i> Cool Down -</i> After a chaotic moment inside or outside of the
    classroom a ‘behavioral key change’ is necessary. Relaxing, quiet, and soft
    music can be the auditory signal that helps students get back on track.
    Research shows that there’s “<a
      href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/LESIUKarticle2005.pdf"
      target="_blank"
    >
      value of music listening for positive mood change and enhanced perception
      on design while working”.</a
    >
  </li>

  <li>
    <i>Brain Breaks -</i>
    <a
      href="https://www.crosscountry.com/blog/giving-students-frequent-breaks-can-support-their-success?"
      target="_blank"
    >
      Breaks are undeniably useful in the classroom.</a
    >
    But the term “brain breaks" is specifically geared towards mentally
    recharging students to make them available for future learning. Music can
    create an enjoyable way to use a melodic circuit breaker during the school
    day.
  </li>

  <li>
    <i> Instruction -</i> Whether it’s using time signatures to teach fractions,
    digging into historical cultural movements through song, or having students
    digest lyrics to learn rhetorical strategies such as use of metaphors,
    similes, and word choice music has got you covered. Not only is it an
    effective instructional tool but it’s one that can take a typical lesson and
    put a melodic twist on it.
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>What does the research say?</h3>
<p>
  It’s evident that using music isn’t merely a way to make your classroom
  standout but research shows that “exposure to music can improve learning and
  increase positive classroom atmosphere”. ¹ Furthermore “active engagement with
  music can impact the way that the brain processes information, enhancing the
  perception of language and speech, and subsequently improving our ability to
  communicate with others and learn to read”. ²⁺³Not all music is created equal
  when it comes to utilizing it in a classroom setting. The evidence shows that
  “students perform better when listening to music they perceive as calming
  rather than music that is perceived as more aggressive”. ⁴ As somebody who can
  appreciate both it seems Mozart might just be better than metal in a classroom
  setting.
</p>
<p>
  Music can be an incredibly powerful tool. When used appropriately it can not
  only add to your educational day, but it can make a potentially frustrating
  task a tad more enjoyable. For our proverbial outro we hope that these tuneful
  tips don’t fall flat and that you can help your students hit all the right
  notes.
</p>
<p><center>Break a leg!</center></p>

<h3>References:</h3>
<ol style="margin:10px 30px;">
  <li>
    Eerola, P. S., and Eerola, T. (2014). Extended music education enhances the
    quality of school life. Music Education Research. 16 (1), 88-104.
  </li>
  <li>
    Hallam, S. (2010). The power of music: Its impact on the intellectual,
    social, and personal development of children and young people. International
    Journal of Music Education. 28 (3) 269-289.
  </li>
  <li>
    Bokiev, D., Bokiev, U., Aralas, D., Ismail, L., & Othman, M. (2018).
    Utilizing music and songs to promote student engagement in ESL classrooms.
    International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences,
    8(12), 314–332
  </li>
  <li>
    Hallam, S., Price, J., & Katsarou, G. (2002). The effects of background
    music on primary school pupils' task performance. Educational Studies,
    28(2), 111-122. 
    <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/03055690220124551" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.1080/03055690220124551</a>
  </li>
</ol>


Teaching in Tune: Using Music in the Classroom