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Music as a Training Tool Excerpt

INTRODUCTION:

Imagine training without sound. For many of us, it is impossible. Our voices are our primary communication tool. Even in visual mediums most people rely on the auditory signal. This reliance on sound was vividly demonstrated in 1927 with the introduction of “talking” motion pictures. By 1928, the entire silent film industry was bankrupt. When given a choice, people chose sound. And it’s no wonder. Silence makes most people so uncomfortable that, when confronted with it, they will whistle, sing, or talk.

Music may be the most powerful form of auditory communication. You find it everywhere: in homes, on televisions, in movies, in cars, in elevators, at stores, at work sites, in doctor’s offices, and in nightclubs. People everywhere work, drive, eat, sleep, dream, and love to music.

Music is valuable in every known civilization, past and present. Most societies mark the important stages of a person’s life with music. There are birth songs, birthday songs, coming-of-age songs, graduation songs, anniversary songs, holiday songs, retirement songs, and death dirges. The impact of music is such that most people remember specific songs connected with specific life events.

Studies have shown that music has numerous effects, including the following:

★ Music affects shopping habits. People tend to feel less crowded and stressed while shopping in the presence of background music. The proper selection of music translates into higher profitability. Slow Baroque music can increase sales by as much as 38 percent!

★ Music affects productivity. The mind and body instinctually fall into rhythm with music. Routine tasks from jogging to housework to homework are more successful when accompanied by music. Music has been proven to enhance workplace efficiency, reduces absenteeism, increases alertness, and shortens reaction times.

★ Music affects moods. Music calms, relaxes, excites, motivates, and suggests appropriate emotion. Movies owe much of their impact to music, making people laugh, cry, cringe in fear, or cheer with joy.

★ Music affects health. Music can alter the human body's physiology, making people happier, healthier, and smarter; helping their immune systems fight off viruses by reducing stress hormone levels; and affecting pulse rate and blood pressure.

And yet, even with these proven benefits, when trainees enter or leave the training room, reflect or talk to each other, take a break, and review or celebrate achievements, music is absent. The lack of this auditory signal results in a cold and uninviting training environment, reduced trainer effectiveness, and less than optimal learning.

In this Infoline, you will discover and learn to apply this often-neglected learning tool. You will:

★ Explore the effects of music and the reasons for those effects:

★ Examine the music theory principles that trainers should know, and;

★ Discover applications for training success.

ASTD InfoLine: Music as a Training Tool

In this InfoLine published by ASTD, you will discover and learn to apply music, the

often-neglected learning tool, to training environments. You will explore the effects

of music in the classroom and the reasons for those effects, examine the music theory

principles that trainers should know, and discover applications for training success.

In clear language, you will learn how to:

★ Achieve powerful results by applying music in the training room.

★ Make the right musical selection for every training situation.