Musical Learners
- Christy Bass Adams
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord. Ephesians 5:19 (NIV)
When I was a kid, family road trips meant lots of singing. We sang in the church choir, so that meant all four parts were covered when we harmonized together. Along with familiar songs, we often maintained melodies but changed the words to make a new song. Familiar hymn lyrics like, What a friend we have in Jesus, became, What a friend we have in cheeses, mozzarella, brie, and Swiss. Music played a huge part in my childhood, and I’ve continued the tradition with my own children.
In middle school, my brother and I often set schoolwork to music for better comprehension. Gilligan’s Island and The Addams Family theme songs were a couple of our favorites. We memorized linking verbs, adverbs, figurative language terms, math definitions, and vocabulary every year by setting the words to familiar tunes. I also learned that the majority of Emily Dickinson’s poetry can be set to the tune of Gilligan’s Island. Because I could not stop for death, he kindly stopped for me, the carriage held but just ourselves and immortality. That was fun, wasn’t it?
Music is a beautiful gift from God. It ministers in ways plain words never could. Even instrumental music is scientifically proven to bring our bodies to a place of calmness and serenity. Many teachers play soft music in the background as a way to promote peace in the classroom.
We live in a time where people are sharing their musical talents online. There are songs about every subject a person could possibly imagine. From parts of speech to scientific terms, there’s bound to be a song for it somewhere online. When I taught math, I found a teacher who made math raps and my students loved her. I also played multiplication songs and raps and had my students write their own based on the concepts we were learning. Music solidifies concepts, especially of the students are writing the words with accurate vocabulary and thought.
Do you have students who would benefit from more music in the classroom? Don’t be afraid of allowing learning to be fun!
In what ways are you incorporating music in your classroom? Can you increase it?
Do the Heart Work
1. Do you have any kids in your classroom who lean toward the Musical Intelligence?
2. In what ways do you include rhythm, rhyme, and music in the classroom?
3. How has music impacted you? Did your teachers incorporate music? If not, do you wish they would have made the effort?
Digging Deeper
The Bible is filled with musical references. Music is a huge part of our worship of God and connection to him. We praise, weep, rejoice, mourn, shout, and bow when we engage in God-honoring music. Read the following Psalm and spend some time reflecting on God’s goodness and counting your blessings.
Psalm 98:1-7 (NIV)
Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
If You Get Spare Time
Think about all the songs you learned in your younger years and how fast they can be recalled. Spend time researching the concepts you plan to teach in the near future and find songs that will reinforce the skills. Also consider how music can span across the curriculum into every subject. And make sure to have fun.
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