Music Regime

Nothing beats classical music as a backdrop for quiet classroom study—a session of sustained silent reading springs to mind here. Steer clear of the 1812 Overture, complete with cannons (the ones that shoot, not Pachelbel’s canon) for a session like this.

Any Mozart piano sonata is your go-to. Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos are another fine choice. Curate your playlist to suit the situation. For direct teaching where you want student focus, keep the volume low and the music calm. Brahms wrote some particularly restful symphonies.

Don’t forget to pre-listen, especially if you are unfamiliar with the music. You are looking for words like ‘andante,’ ‘moderato,’ or ‘adagio’ in your searches. Anything labelled ‘presto’ or ‘allegro’ is best avoided. All five words refer to the tempo of the music. The former three denote slower tempos, while the latter two are faster.

If you have stayed true to the music regime in your classroom, by now, your students won’t notice it.

It is no exaggeration to say that music promotes a conducive environment for studying, improving concentration and learning experiences. Upbeat music has its place, but classical music is necessary if you are chasing improved learning outcomes through direct teaching and individual study.