MUSIC: That supports learning

Listen, when I’m doing chores around the house, I can absolutely belt out the lyrics to every *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys song. But when it’s time for me to learn a new skill or perform an intricate task, that kind of music is not what I’d choose to play, if I’d choose music at all.

School gyms are the hive of the school. Walk by, peek through the window, and you’ll feel it immediately: the energy is high, the music is bumping, and sometimes it looks like there’s a full-on party happening. As physical educators, we know learning is taking place, but it’s worth pausing to consider how that learning is happening.

First, we have students with sensory needs. Research has shown that even something as common as a white noise machine in an infant’s bedroom may not be conducive to how a child’s brain operates and isn’t always necessary to support development. Sound matters. If you’re interested in diving deeper into how the brain processes sound, focus, and balance, check out the Huberman Lab podcast, Huberman Lab: How Hearing & Balance Enhance Focus and Learning.

In the gym, we may also be supporting students for whom English is not their native language. Playing music with lyrics in a language they don’t speak adds another layer of auditory input; input that can compete with instruction and potentially hinder understanding.

This is where intention matters. Consider the A Gym With Less Words Spotify Playlist. It offers upbeat, lyric-free background music that we refer to as “working music” in my classroom. This is music that supports movement and engagement without overwhelming the senses.

Give it a try and notice how your gym environment shifts. Sometimes, less really is more.

Keep on,

Katie