Exploring Learning Music: Listening and Creating

We listen to or create music because it is a way to access different parts of our brains. It contains powerful messages, and it creates an emotional response. Course learning activities encourage you to explore music for learning and teaching. In each module, you will find some activities you can try. You may also want to think of other ideas to try.

Try listening to music:

• As a jumping-off point for activities; for example, free writing or collage. A sentence from the lyrics might provoke your thinking and make it easier to begin.
• To provide background noise for an activity. If you prefer silence while working, you might want to listen first, then try out other activities with the lyrics or sounds in your memory, rather than playing a CD or tape.
• To prompt emotions, feed the spirit, relax or sharpen the mind.
• To prompt reflection.

Try creating music or sound. You can sing, play percussion, beat a drum, or play any other instrument. Then reflect on how it works to help you:

• Breathe and energize.
• Exercise your voice or other part of your body.
• Express, communicate or change a feeling.
• Create a mood.
• Express a thought.
• Lift your spirits, rekindle hope.
• Link body, mind, emotion and spirit together.

A Note on Music

Many of us do not think of ourselves as musicians. If that includes you, don't let that stop you from experimenting with creating different sorts of sounds! Many of us have been turned off various forms of music by school lessons. Explore music in this course anyway and include thoughts and feelings you notice in your reflective writing or visual creations.