Saturday 15 August 2009

Music (Incompetech)

Hi everyone,


I recently searched on the Incompetech website to locate a piece of royalty-free music that I could use within the classroom. In this section of the site the music is covered under the Creative Commons agreement (refer to next post).


I found a piece of music entitled, ‘Water Prelude.’ After downloading, I listened to it and it sounded relaxing. I considered how I could incorporate this into the classroom. At the beginning of the year, my Prep students had rest time. This could be played to create a sense of calm and rest within the classroom.


I also considered other music that I could search for on this site.


1. Pack-up music. This is a good way for students to be engaged when packing away materials.
2. Transition music. This could be played for the changing of group rotations.
3. Presentation music. Students could select music to play as an accompaniment to their presentations.
4. Music as a subject. Students could analyse and discuss the patterns and musical elements within the piece.


The use of music within the classroom can be aligned to the theory of Active Learning (ACU Adams Centre for Teaching Excellence, 2000). Active Learning is split into three components, input, process and output. The use of music relates to the first component in the following way:


- Input. Active Learning requires input from multiple senses. Music assists with the auditory and feeling component.


Music is an effective tool to engage or manage students within the classroom.


Feel free to leave a comment about your thoughts to the use of music within the classroom.


Melissa.


Reference


ACU Adams Centre for Teaching Excellence. (2000). How does Active Learning work? Retrieved August 3, 2009, from Active Learning Online: http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/howdoes.htm

2 comments:

  1. Hi Melissa,
    I think music is a very important tool to use in the classroom as it can actually improve learning with students, if they are studying to a particular artist when the students then hear the artist they will recall on what they were learning.
    Lozzie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Lozzie,

    Music is a great tool to engage students. In my class, the teacher uses music to bring the students to the carpet, pack away and other group transitions.

    Thanks for your comment!
    Melissa.

    ReplyDelete