I use music also to help create a fun and enjoyable learning enviorment in the classroom while working on paper lab's.
I often times play music (if appropriate) during classroom lab time. I find this to help the students stay focused on what can sometimes be rather boring production- such as gum paste flowers.
Laura,
I too am a believer that music can be used quite effectively in the classroom. As stated in ED107 there are powerful emotions and memories that can be triggered when old songs are played. This same emotion can be used to help with memory if the same songs are played with a praticular set of facts that must be memorized. I have used this technique many times while studying for safety and sanitation tests and quizzes.
I start out with group discussions of a chapter and play a certain set of songs (usually very soft pop-rock). Then at the end of the day review I play the same set at a very low volume. Then I review one more time the information with the subliminal music.
Then I play the music before class on the day of the test. It seems to work as I have been getting much better aggregate test scores on the subject matter. One caveat however, is the music must be enjoyable to all in order for them to hear it at least three times!
I teach a production class in a culinary school and while I do not have music playing during lectures and demos when it comes to actual production cooking music is introduced to the class using an on-line radio station to avoid the copyright laws. It keeps the students in the culianry world focused and calm most of the time.
I have never tried using music in the classroom either, but I think I will try it. I like the idea.
I have used music in my classroom since I began teaching. I have used it in poetry classes, composition classes, and in literature classes.
It has worked well for me.
