Music as a Teaching Tool

Music is a universal language that resonates with everyone. It stirs the emotions, relieves tension, focuses the mind, reduces mental fatigue, and releases “feel good” hormones into the body called endorphins. It also enhances creativity and boots learning

Since 80% of what the brain processes comes through our ears, music is a natural teaching tool. It stimulates and unifies cognitive function, and makes use of several kinds of intelligence—auditory, kinesthetic, visual, (if the music or lyrics are presented in written form) and tactual (stimulating emotion.) Music actually helps improve the retention and recall of information.

We have all had the experience of getting a song stuck in our heads, or can remember an advertising jingle from decades ago, even if it is a product that we don’t particularly like!

I am a vegetarian, hate fast food, and am not a big fan of Barry Manilow, yet I can still recall the jingle he wrote and sang decades ago:

“You deserve a break today

So get up and get away

To McDonalds…”

There is something about music that imprints information on our brain in a lasting manner. So why not take advantage of it when teaching your children? Music can be used to enhance learning in any subject, but it is especially effective in acquiring math and language skills.

To learn more, and to find some free resources for your home schooling lessons, visit these links:

http://www.songsforteaching.com/

http://intelli-tunes.com/

http://gs.fanshawec.ca/tlwm/