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Music, Music, Music |
 I just wanted to share a few thoughts with you on why you might want to inject some music into your training program. To begin with, music is a great way to start. Imagine as your new trainees stroll into class you've got some upbeat, exciting music playing in the background. Perhaps it is a song representative of your program's theme. Introduce music and songs you'll be able to reference and even tie into your program materials during the class.
Music suggests so many things to new arrivals. "Hey this is going to be fun, and possibly entertaining". Contrast this to so many program beginnings you've experienced. The instructor stands, says he's excited to be here, welcomes you to the program, and with a well-practiced monotone delivery, begins to drag you through the next 75 PowerPoint slides (each with more than enough bullet points). You and the rest of the class start thinking "Uh oh, I've been here before." You only have one chance to begin a program, so you might as well do what you can to tell your learners that they are in for something exciting and good!
Music is innately relaxing, and generates positive emotional feeling. In short, it helps to move your listeners into the very best position to learn. Continue to play music to manage program breaks.
Music can also be used as an integral part of the training itself, and for good reason. Music can actually help us to retain and recall information. Music is processed in the limbic system of our brains. Interestingly enough, this is also where equipment for processing long term memory exists.
According to Kimberly Hare and James Smallwood (Music and Learning - http://www.kaizen-training.com/free/TtT_Hare_Smallwood.pdf )
"Music has the ability to affect our learning processes, brain development, organization and the refinement of our entire neurological system. Music elicits emotional responses and stimulates the limbic system, which must be accessed in order for learning to be encoded into long-term memory" and "Evidence from schools shows that not only is the study of music beneficial in itself, but the introduction of music into any learning situation causes a marked improvement in math, sciences and reading."
We all know that putting information to music helps us to recall. That's how great works were passed to us prior to Gutenberg's marvelous invention (The Printing Press).
Homer's Iliad and Odyssey were miraculously passed down to us as bards and storytellers managed to recall these lengthy works by reciting them to a rhythmic cadence. Think of ALL the words to ALL the songs you know and the scores of advertising jingles that have been permanently encoded within our brains. We may deserve a break today, but we'll never be able to get up and get away from these solidly cemented ad jingles. Have you ever tried to say the words to our national anthem? It's near impossible, but sing the words, and magically they are there for us. So why not take advantage of this wonderful phenomenon as we train. Focus on your key messages and put them to music. Then look for opportunities in the program to play your messages. I guarantee they will be recorded and remembered by your trainees for a long time to come. |
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