Getting the Band Back Together: Using Music to Build Community

Did you know that the letter “a” produces seven different sounds?

Many years ago, I pursued a career in teaching English as a second language to adult learners in New York City. As my first teaching assignment, I was tasked to teach my beginner-level English learners about pronunciation. For non-native speakers of English, the way to learn pronunciation is through listening intently and through ‘practice, practice, practice’! 

To liven up the classroom on a Monday morning and to shed some pop culture knowledge, I had Michael Jackson’s song, “Bad” playing as my students trickled in to find their seats. We were going to learn how to pronounce the letter “a” that morning. If you’ve ever heard this song before, the word “bad” is used 48 times. That’s 48 chances to practice!

As you can imagine, my students not only left class learning how to pronounce and accentuate the “a” in “bad” but also with some edgy new dance moves. 

Music Creates Community

Music is a form of communication; it is a universal language. Even without knowing the meaning of what is spoken, it generates feelings, emotions, and bonds people together. So how could we bring music into the digital learning environment? Here are some tips based on my own experience, but also from observing how other instructors have used music: 

• Open your class with a song. This gives your students some time to get settled into class, allowing them to shift their mindset and attention from whatever they were juggling prior to entering your live session. Music is also a great tool for small talk! 
• Ask your students to DJ. Have a group activity that requires individual thinking or action? Have one of your students DJ for the entire class while everyone works on the activity.
• Connect a song meaning with the lesson topic. I once observed a Family Counseling instructor ask her students to share songs that were related to each week’s topic. Then, she asked her students to vote on the song they liked most. At the beginning of each class, she would play the crowdsourced song and allow students to reflect and connect the meaning of the song with the lesson content. This teaching strategy opens the floor for discussion immediately, and is an excellent way to get all of your students involved, while also sharing their different taste in music. 
• Collect Soundtrack to My Life. The Soundtrack to My Life activity is an easy exercise that can be collected at the beginning of the semester and utilized all throughout. Here’s how it works:
• Using a Google Form or any desired survey method, ask the following questions for your students to choose from:
• Give three facts about yourself without giving away your identity. 
• NOTE: You can keep the survey anonymous by adding this question. OR omit this question and have your students share their name. 
• If you were a professional athlete, what would be your entrance song?
  
• What is your 'feeling myself' song? (This song probably makes you dance automatically)
• If you could choose only one song to listen to for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• What is one song that gives you a strong emotional reaction when you listen to it and why? (Provide the WHY, please) 
• Feature this student’s Soundtrack of My Life response at the beginning of class as a friendly guessing game. OR use this activity to create a classroom playlist. 

How do you use music in your digital classroom? Comment below!