9 Responses

1. MORE INFO: USE OF MUSIC IN LEARNING
   I added this info to my original posting, but it didn’t appear for some reason!

   I am a mature student conducting a very small-scale research project as part of an assignment on Year 2 of my BA (Hons) in Education & Training. The project is examining the use of music on training courses.

   All responses will be anonymised and will ONLY be used for my project, and no other purpose.

   Thanks very much for your time!

2. That’s an interesting subject!
   (1) For what purpose have you used music on training courses?

   I haven’t used music on training courses but I have used it when I have given large group presentations, to between 80 and 150 students, on an academic course. The music was in the form of wave files attached to PowerPoint slides.

   (2) What style(s) of music have you used?

   Orchestral film themes, such as Gone With The Wind and 2001 A Space Odyssey, and a catchy song that was popular in the charts by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I have also used a mobile phone effect wave file.

   (3) What made you choose these styles?

   The film themes were chosen for their atmospheric effect, and played with an opening slide that showed a stage framed by large red velvet curtains, with a welcome message. The lecture theatre had tiered seats, and with the lights dimmed it felt like a theatre. I wanted to create the impression that when the music ended something good was going to happen. The mobile phone effect was linked to a slide reminding students to turn their mobile phones off. I chose the chart music because it was very popular at the time, therefore it would grab attention as it was instantly recognisable, and a good foot-tapper. Also, the group had already had the film themes.

   (4) Have you evaluated the results of using music in any way?

   Not in any formal or structured way, only informally.

   (5) If yes, how did you do this?

   Informally, my impression was that they were surprised and they liked the effect; I didn’t sense that they found it inappropriate or irritating.

   (6) What positive effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?

   The students appeared pleasantly surprised, and it appeared to grab their attention and generate some excitement. I think that the way I used music appeared to work partly because the students hadn’t experienced it being used before in that way; it was a novelty, for them and for me. Familiarity would probably breed contempt.

   (7) How do you know this?

   Pure guesswork and speculation, see (5) above.

   (8) What negative effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?

   None that I know of. I assume that the effects of music will be variable because of different learning styles.

   (9) How do you know this?

   University students aren’t reluctant to say what they think, and are quick to criticise and complain. The relationship I had with them was such that they would have told me if they didn’t like my use of music; they certainly complained about lots of other things!

   Good luck with your research project.

3. Music use in trng
   (1) Purpose: to help create a welcoming atmosphere on arrival; to complement certain types of activities (such as action planning); very occasionally as part of an accelerated learning technique.
   (2)+ (3) Style: Various. Mood and feel are most important. Arguably, baroque is best for accelerated learning because of the alleged resonance with certain brain wave patterns. But I think that ‘fit’, which is subjective, is the most critical. I don’t favour rock over classical or vice versa.

   (4)+ (5) Evaluated? No, not directly. But have had mostly positive feedback, mostly unsolicited. Some curious questions and only very rare critical feedback.

   (6) Positive effects: part of a process of setting people at ease – but only part. Can help energise or relax, so helping get people in the appropriate ‘state’ for whatever it is they are doing. Does it help learning? – I’m not sure but either way the effect seems to be indirect (ie by creating the right mood, affecting physiology) and not of major significance.

   (7) How do you know this? Professional opinion based on experience – I have no scientific data.

   (8) Negative effects: choosing the wrong type of music (typically what you like) can turn some people off. Using brass band music for counselling training or the birdie song for strategic planning is not being creative, it is being daft. Volume too low or too high, playing at inappropriate times, etc. are also important. Basically it is walking a tightrope; you have to be spot on.

   (9) How do you know this? Common sense, experience, feedback and learning from others (including those who have written about this).

   Hope this helps

   Graham

4. What works for me!
   Hi Justin,

   (1) For what purpose have you used music on training courses?
   I work for a retailer where music is always played ion the shop floor. After new starters have had their till training I play music for a till review. The purpose of this is to get them using the tills with distractions.

   (2) What style(s) of music have you used?
   Popular music that is fairly optimistic.

   (3) What made you choose these styles?
   It keeps things perky and duplicates what they will hear in the store.

   (4) Have you evaluated the results of using music in any way?
   Not in an official capacity, although we know it increases confidence in using the till.

   (5) If yes, how did you do this?

   (6) What positive effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?
   The room would be deathly queit for about half an hour without it.

   (7) How do you know this?
   Before music was used the silence was a marked contrast to the rest of induction and not representative of the conditions they will face on the shop floor.

   (8) What negative effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?
   It can distract from the task.

   (9) How do you know this?
   I see them siging along and not going through their worksheet!

   Hope this helps, and best of luck with your course!
   Nikki

5. Re Music in Learning
   Hi Justin

   I have used music in training for several years now. It is an accelerated learning technique and has improved the quality of the learning I offer.The type of music used varies but is generally accepted to be the type that has 1 beat a second. Baroque music is really good for this but doesnt suit everyones taste. In class I generally have a selection of music which I use to adjust the tempo and pace of training. I attended a course sometime ago where music was used as an introduction to the course. It began with soft relaxation music which progressively got faster and more energetic which then built to a crescendo of highly energised spanish/latino music just before the trainer introdcued themselves. Highly inmpactive results. I have used evalaution sheets and semi structured interviews to get feedback and analyse the effects. I found that the class were generally more motivated and progression from topic to topic was enhanced.The amount and quality of work was also affected – mostly positively. Music was used during exercises as background music but not whilst direct teaching took place.Happy to discuss more if you want. Some students did not like the music or wanted heavy rock! Ok its a personal thing but not ideal in the classroom. As a rule, if someone objected I would turn it off.
   Try it and experiment with different types of music and when you use it.Hope this helps
   Phill

6. More on AL
   In addition to Philip’s comments, I used a “cut down” version of Lozanov’s Accelerated Learning approach for a number of years in the IT sector. To answer your specific questions (thanks for making this easy):

   (1) For what purpose have you used music on training courses?

   To make the initial uptake of information more effective; to make revision sessions more effective; and to create a mood of relaxed alertness during practical sessions.

   (2) What style(s) of music have you used?

   Mainly music from the “Baroque” period (1650-1750) plus Mozart.
   Instrumental only.

   (3) What made you choose these styles?

   Reading detailed descriptions of Lozanov’s work and attending a related course run by Dave “The Accelerated Learning Handbook” Meier.

   (4) Have you evaluated the results of using music in any way?

   Yes, on a limited scale.

   (5) If yes, how did you do this?

   I was running the same courses over and over for roughly similar audiences in a very large company.

   I compiled statistics of people’s reactions during 3 or 4 courses prior to using the technique and about half-a-dozen courses after starting to use the techniques.

   (6) What positive effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?

   Although many of the delegates thought it was looney, or at best pointless, I believe it helped people to be more relaxed yet also more focused.
   Having said that, I believe the revision sessions (also part of Lozanov’s method) contributed to the overall effect.

   (7) How do you know this?

   A majority of the trainees reported that they had learnt more of the material than had been the case on other courses. In fact some of them said they were positively surprised at how much had “stuck” compared with other courses they had been on (these reports came in weeks and months after the course).

   A significant number of delegates reported occasionally seeing and retaining material during the revision sessions which they’d missed first time through.

   (8) What negative effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?

   I can’t think of any, and none of the delegates reported any problems in the long term. Quite the contrary, it seems to have worked for even the most sceptical trainees. Even those who finished the course still convinced that it was all nonsense.

   (9) How do you know this?

   Because I was running several different courses I often saw delegates on two or even three courses over the period of a year or more.
   I got many of these reports either by direct word of mouth or on feedback sheets from later course(s).

   Be well

   Andy B.

7. Yee har!
   (1) For what purpose have you used music on training courses?

   To emphasise a theme and lighten the atmosphere

   (2) What style(s) of music have you used?

   US Country and Western/Rodeo music
   (3) What made you choose these styles?

   It fitted in with our theme of breaking through new frontiers and pioneering spirit
   (4) Have you evaluated the results of using music in any way?
   No
   (5) If yes, how did you do this?

   (6) What positive effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?
   It lightened the atmosphere and provided a change of mood. It provided a talking point.
   (7) How do you know this?
   The atmosphere changed and delegates talked about it.
   (8) What negative effects do you believe using music has had during your training courses?
   It detracted from the seriousness of the situation and theme.
   It didnt seem to do anything quantifiable that aided learning. ie. no measurable results that it was better than delivering without music
   (9) How do you know this?
   Some delegates laughed and questioned the relevance.

   Justin Standfield

8. Thanks for all your help re music in learning
   Dear all,

   Thanks very much for taking the time to read my post and reply to the questions – it has been helpful to gain some additional insights which will add an extra dimension to my assignment.

   Very best wishes,

   Justin Standfield

9. Moving Performance

   There’s a chap called Ben Hines who uses music to help businesses to improve performance at every level. This isn’t music as incidental to other training; it’s the use of music as a vehicle for change. Have a look at his site: http://www.movingperformance.com/. Please note that I’m not in any way affiliated with Ben or his work; I’m just interested! Thanks – Patrick