3 Ways Music Can Be Used Positively

Photo by Zane Persaud on Unsplash

Use Music to Impact Mood Positively

“One good thing about music, when it hits you feel no pain.” Bob Marley and The Wailers

When I was younger, the one thing I remember most was the sound of music always playing in the house. Every Saturday morning was dedicated to chores and cleaning up, but it was never without a variety of feel-good beats and lyrics circulating throughout it. Even the slow jams hit just right when they reached your ears. Those chords traveled into your soul.

Like most kids, I absolutely hated to clean, but no matter how grouchy I started out, I always ended up smiling, dancing, and singing into the top of a broom stick or whatever else I had in my hand. That improved my mood for the day.

It’s no different with my students. I start the days off with music to set the tone and raise spirits. Sometimes, we play “Name That Song” and they compete against each other just for fun. I like how they get a kick out of hearing me play songs by artists they listen to, (as if I’m too old to know the current music), in addition to old school songs. However, it never fails to manifest laughs, smiles, and movement, which is my primary goal for doing it in the first place, especially for my students who are struggling emotionally.

Here's what I mean by that. Almost every teacher I know, including myself, has students who come from troubled households and situations that have created stress, anxiety, depression, and sadness within them. Therefore, finding different ways to create a warm, safe, and positive atmosphere that also promotes joy over misery is vital in impacting moods positively. So, I choose to use music as one of my methods to do so because it aids in changing emotions from low points to better and more balanced ones.

This isn’t a new technique though. Music has been used to boost moods for many years. It’s even used in therapy. According to Psychology Today, music therapy is an “evidence-based approach [for] people of all ages” (“Music Therapy”). Studies have shown that it stimulates the brain to produce mood enhancing chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is connected to the actual emotion, whereas serotonin affects how one processes the emotion; and music is the stimulant that allows them to jumpstart those happy feelings.

In addition to reducing stress and anxiety, other areas music has proven to be beneficial are “facilitating self-reflection, increasing joy and awe, lowering heart rate and blood pressure, and regulating emotions” (“Music Therapy”). So, why not add a mix of Pop, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, Country, Reggae, Jazz, or any other genre of music to your routine and explore how it can positively enhance moods.

Use Music to Build Skills

I know I can

Be what I wanna be

If I work hard at it

I'll be where I wanna be. (Nas)

Those lyrics are from a song called “I Can” by a rap artist named Nas. The first thing I love about that song is the chorus. If that’s not a mantra for confidence building, I don’t know what is.

Imagine having a classroom full of students who are struggling learners with low self-esteem and minimal confidence in their abilities, which is generally the case because those things often go hand in hand. Yet, you choose a song to play that not only increases their moods, but encourages confidence, and is educational. You can’t beat that. It’s like a three for one special with nothing but benefits.

The lyrics were written to inspire kids not to give up on their dreams, rather to continue to strive for whatever they want to do in the future. But if you check out the rest of the lyrics, like other music, it can also be utilized to increase vocabulary, promote diversity in learning, and encourage comprehension and reading.

Here's how. In the song, Nas uses words such as “achieve…converted…empowerment…invaded… [and] corrosion” (Nas). These are terms that aren’t regularly used in everyday conversations among kids/students. However, they are new words that can be learned and added to their vocabulary, so that whenever they’re heard or able to be used, kids will not only know the definitions of the words, but they’ll also know how to use them correctly in the context of a conversation.

Depending on the age of the child, this can be done through simply asking what a word in the song means or defining it for them, then having them use it randomly throughout the week in daily speaking. You can even use the new words in a game. No matter how you choose to introduce and use new words out of music, the benefits will be undeniable.

Another great perk of music is that it can be helpful in building comprehension and reading skills, as well as promoting diversity in learning. Throughout the lyrics, there are mentions of Lena Horne, Oprah, the Persian military, empires in Africa called Kush, and Alexander the Great (Nas). This song has amazing content that can be used for teachable moments about past and current figures, cultures, and civilizations. Whether using music to learn independently or with your child/student, a simple guiding question like, “What is the song about?” is a great start to them discovering answers. In turn, some degree of reading, listening, and learning will occur.

And it’s not limited by age or song type. It can be effective with Disney songs for younger ones or with today’s popular music for older ones. Just remember to make it fun. Learning doesn’t always have to be so serious. That’s why I love to incorporate music in my home and classrooms. E. Y. Harburg said it best when he stated, “Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought.”

Use Music for Engagement and Memory

Lastly, music not only enhances knowledge, but it increases other abilities such as focus and memory.

Have you ever known someone who had trouble learning in school, yet after just a couple of times of hearing a song on the radio or watching a music video, he or she could sing all the lyrics to that song? It’s because music is mnemonic.

The simple way to explain mnemonics is that it’s a method used to help people remember information. There are various types of mnemonics, however music mnemonics involve the sounds, patterns, and arrangements of a song to promote memory function. The amount of information retained and the rate of learning, of course, is individual per learner. But this is one of the reasons that many kids can watch shows like Sesame Street then memorize/learn their letter sounds, the alphabet, how to spell words, and other things. Not to mention the fact that individuals are more apt to become engaged in things that capture their attention and interest. Put a catchy beat to it, and you've got a winner. So, why not try the one thing that is considered a universal language by many to help shape minds.

If you think back to a time when you heard a new song and by the third time it played, you were singing along verse by verse as if you had rehearsed it for days on end. Yet, you hadn't. It’s most likely because without even realizing it, music stimulated parts of your brain and memory in such a way that it allowed you to retain that information. That's why music is such an important tool in education. For those who struggle with learning disabilities and sometimes behavioral issues, music can be an important resource in management and routine learning. Many have referred to it a universal language, and I wholeheartedly agree with them. It has undoubtedly been proven to positively impact moods, minds, and learning on multiple levels inside and outside of the classroom. If you've never thought of using music as an option for learning, why not try it out and discover the plethora of positive effects that may result from it.

- Kiyoko Demings

(Credits: Music For The People Photo by Tallie Robinson on Unsplash)

References: “Music Therapy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/music-therapy.