Teachers ranging from kindergarten to high school have been looking for classical music to act as soothing background noise and hopefully stimulate the students’ brains to be less distracted so they can focus on work. That’s often a difficult thing to find, especially since they don’t know what’s going on in each student’s head. Thanks to today’s technology in the music industry, though, there are many more options for calming classroom music than just orchestral or classic music, especially on YouTube. This article delves into the purposes and uses of calming music in classrooms.
The Definition of Calming Classroom Music
Calming classroom music could be defined as background music that is perfect for filling the silence of a classroom while also enforcing that silence. The music should be pleasant enough for students to want to listen to, able to prevent too much chatter, intended to help keep students calm but not so calm that it puts students to sleep, and able to let teachers do their teaching in peace.
The Purpose of Calming Classroom Music
Depending on the grade level, using calming classroom music can be an auditory signal to get the students to relax and refocus their minds after they’ve had an exciting, stressful, or chaotic moment before class. It’s the only time in which the quote “fight fire with fire” makes perfect sense. By suppressing the chaotic noise with more distracting, enjoyable sounds, the music can aid in focus and meditation.
Research has shown that music can create a positive atmosphere in the classroom, which, regardless of their age, students could benefit from given the stresses they face in and outside of school. Classroom music of any kind helps the brain to release endorphins or positive chemicals.
If there are lyrics or melodies playing that a student many enjoy hearing in the background while they’re learning, they can help students memorize their lessons more since they’ll connect their new knowledge to something they enjoyed. As music is also a form of self-expression, it can also help with inspiration and focus, especially since many people focus more when they’re humming a tune to themselves.
Traditional Calming Music Teachers Use
The typical choices most teachers use for calming classroom music are songs revolving around classical instruments, soft orchestra songs, or cover songs with the lyrics rewritten into educational facts in the hopes of helping the students memorize them better. Though the lyrics usually make students cringe, the lyrics remain annoyingly stuck in their heads for a while and help them remember the facts that were sung.
Lucky history teachers have the option to use preserved music from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and so on as background music. This music can not only grab students’ attention but also allow them to experience a bit of the past, making them want to interact more with the lessons. English teachers can also use music creatively by letting the students choose what instrumental music resonates with the stories, poems, or other types of literature they’re studying. This way, the students can immerse or express themselves and the teachers can begin to understand what types of music get their students’ attention.
Calming Music That Students Use
Even outside of the classroom, students can use calming music to help trigger their productivity at home and help themselves focus so they can either complete homework, work on projects, or read their assigned books. They may look for the same types of calming classroom music they heard their teachers play, or search for their own, perhaps more energetic and currently popular, music.
Many kids use music to focus when at home. The music they choose to listen to can vary based on preference, distraction potential, and the ability to fade into the background when they’re thinking, yet also resurface in their ears when their thoughts become too noisy again. Their choice may also depend on their emotions and the vibes in their home.
Calming Classroom Music for Everyone
Based on what most students may listen to, there’s a broad range of musical pieces that can serve well as calming classroom music. Here are some types of music that both teachers and students can agree would fit well as background music in the classroom:
- OSTs, or original soundtracks from favorite pieces of media, are usually calm music that many students listen to for casual studying, reading, or filling in the silence. These soundtracks are usually on YouTube, taken from background music of movies, shows, video games, or others.
- Popular lo-fi hip-hop radio shows usually host live on YouTube. Most students might be happy to listen to something familiar like these shows; they can add a sense of comfort in times of stressful studying and focusing.
- Hour-long compilations of piano covers of popular songs can help students stay focused. Some students will recognize the beats and get excited but not by enough to distract them from lessons. Instead, they’ll find the music enjoyable and stay silent to keep listening to it.
The Last Note
Calming classroom music doesn’t have to be limited to classical or soft orchestral music anymore. Using a variety of music can benefit students of all ages. Younger children may already have nursery rhymes and catchy songs to aid in learning math and reading, while older students might benefit from immersive jazz or historical 1900s music to engage with history or English lessons. Teenagers could benefit from calming classroom music to help minimize distractions and promote a calm environment for thinking.
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