Reflective Online Teaching: Music and Learning

Music and Learning:

How music can boost one’s learning

Around April (2012), I took part in Neuro-Link Seminar over here in San José, Costa Rica. Neuro-Link is a consultancy firm, utilizing brain-based learning and development technologies to develop people. The idea behind this two-day conference was to help us become aware of how we learn, how we can maximize our learning, and how we can transfer this information to our students to have them learn faster and much better.

André Vermeulen

Among the great amount of tips provided by the Neuro-Link speaker, Andre Vermeulen, the music used in learning really called my attention. I have heard lots about classical music as background music for studying sessions, but I had never heard all the particulars why some types of music trigger learning. Let’s deepen and explore the topic.

During the Neuro-Link seminar, participants are presented with the concept of “Brain Fitness.” The term refers to how “unfit” one’s brain can be if it is homolateral. That is, due to brain dominance, we favor one of our brain hemispheres much more than the other. By favoring one of our brain’s sides, our learning turns “slower,” takes much “longer” than necessary, and becomes “harder.” To be brain fit, it is imperative that we integrate, as much as possible, both brain hemispheres. By doing so, and turning “bilateral,” our learning becomes “faster,” “smarter,” and much “easier.”

Music can become an important element towards the achievement of one’s brain fitness. During the seminar, we were also explained the importance of learning how to play a musical instrument. Music by itself does not guarantee learning, but playing an instrument can help us prepare the scenario for some real learning. But even if one does not play musical instruments, listening to Baroque Music, or even Gregorian Chants, can help to set the right atmosphere some great learning.

Here you have samples of Baroque Music, so you can guide yourself in your search for music to combine it with your studying and teaching:

1. Händel

2. Bach

3. Vivaldi

Some other kind of background music for your studying can also be related to natural sounds, such as water, wind, sea, birds, etc. We were told that music with drums is not a good alternative. However, after talking to colleagues and students, many report that they also listen to drum-based music, and it works well for them when studying, checking their notes, or working on homework.

Music can ease one’s mind and set the room for learning. Based on Neuro-Links seminar, music has lots of advantages for the learner: 1) it promotes physical energy, 2) decreases pain, 3) enhances healing, 4) alleviates emotional stress, 5) stimulates creativity, and 6) stimulates the integration of both hemispheres. The power of music in one’s soul is something we teachers (or learners) consider to become much receptive and open to absorb, process, and use new information.

THE FOUR BRAIN STATES
Brainwave State	Wave Frequency	Characteristics
Gamma	29-40 cps	Stress!
Beta	13-28 cps	Practical / alert / performance / doing
Alpha	8-12 cps	Relaxation / thinking / learning
Theta	4-7 cps	Sub-conscious / dreaming / creative thought
Delta	0.5-3cps	Deep dreamless sleep / unconscious

In terms of learning and using music to help you achieve it, we must understand “four brain states.” As we can see in the chat above, though there are five states, the Delta State is not considered a “stage” for learning since it implies deep sleep. At this point we are unconscious, dead to the world. Now, if we want to awaken our creative thinking skills, Theta State is the right moment. With some good relaxing, soothing music we can get to that level of consciousness. Yet, the right spot for learning comes during the Alpha State. Baroque Music help us attain that state, which is the “ripe” moment for learning and thinking. We can be relaxed, and our mind, tuned up for receiving all sorts of knowledge.

Music can also help us enhance our performance stage, the Beta State. In this particular brain state, our minds are alert, and our bodies are in the “right mood” to do, to perform what it is required from us. However, if we abandoned our performing brain state (Beta) and move up upwards in our brain wave frequency, we will get into Gamma State, which simply means “stress!” Some good background music can help us stay within the Beta State when working or within the Alpha State when learning. Don’t forget that a good planning of one’s learning/performing agenda will also help you to be brain-fit.+

ETo fully develop and comprehend this teaching issue, it’s advisable to research and expand these areas:

1	Stress and music
2	Brain states and learning
3	Techniques to boost learning with music
4	Neuro-Link (South Africa)
5	Best brain states for learning and performing