Workshop: Music in the Classroom

One day in class we had the opportunity to look at some fun and engaging way to utilize music in the classroom. Below you will find a list of websites and resources you can use to integrate music into your English as a foreign language classroom.

Opening Videos

I like to use music videos to get the attention of my students at the beginning of class. They know that they are expected to be in their seats and silent by the time the video ends; however, this happens primarily because students are excited to watch the video. Below are some links to some of my favorite channels on YouTube to find good videos, but the options are endless. (Always preview videos before showing them to a class, as many groups don't edit bad words.)

• The Piano Guys - An all-male group using instruments in unique ways to put a classical twist to modern music. 
• Pentatonix - An a cappella group that covers songs in a way that is visually stimulating and sound beautiful. 
• Walk Off The Earth - A five-person band that makes music videos of covered songs and originals that are entertaining and one-of-a-kind. 
• Julia Nunes - A one-woman wonder show, with videos made using ukulele, guitar, and innumerable homemade instruments. 
• Postmodern Jukebox - A group that takes hit music and puts the lyrics and music into a different era. The songs come out sounding similar to the original but take the listener back to a different time. 
• NPR Tiny Desk Concerts - National Public Radio records famous artists performing their music at a small desk in the NPR offices. The mini-concerts are intimate and honest.  

Idea Toolboxes

• EFL Classroom - A list of 50 ideas on how to you use music activities in your English as a foreign language classroom. This goes beyond using music as a filler; instead, it gives specific examples of how to use a song to extend your students' learning.
• Learning from Lyrics - This is a great resource for music that can be used in the classroom. This contains a database of over 3,000 songs for use in the classroom.
• Movie Segments - A blog made my a Brazilian teacher from Brasilia. This provides an organized list of movie and television clips you can use to teach specific grammar concepts in your classroom and to assess their comprehension. 
• The Literacy Shed - A database of video clips to promote literacy in learning. Feel free to explore this great resource. I particularly like the "Great Animations Shed" for its use of cartoons to teach literacy. Each clip has lesson ideas, so you can choose what works best for your students. 
• The Karaoke Channel - A YouTube channel with over 5,000 karaoke videos. Use this in class to get your students practicing English pronunciation. This is a great reward for students at the end of class if you have extra time. 

Journal Activities

• Complex Writing Prompts - An incredible compilation of complex writing prompts for higher level English speakers. These writing prompts really make students think and use their imaginations. 
• Simple Writing Prompts - A short list of simple writing prompts for mid-level English speakers. 
• Writing Music - Partner journal entry activities with calm, relaxing music to help students concentrate and reduce talking in the classroom.  

Music Video Project

To see an example of the rubric I gave my students for the Music Video Project, click here.

To see the video I showed my students as an example, click here.