| "Songs go far beyond words in their ability | | | | length the application of pop songs in the |
| to insert emotion into | | | | |
| | | | learning environment. In part, I |
| communication." Robert Sylwester, A | | | | said:"Concert halls, ballrooms, parties, and |
| Celebration of NeuronsFilmmakers, if they | | | | yes, the class room, can be uncomfortable |
| knew who brain researcher Robert Sylwester | | | | |
| was, would agree | | | | environments. When people hear a song |
| | | | they've listened to in the privacy of their |
| with him. They often integrate familiar | | | | |
| songs into their movies. Pop songs are so | | | | home, they relax. Comfortable music |
| | | | emotionally warms the training room, placing |
| successful that movie producers will pay | | | | |
| exorbitant sums, in some cases as much as | | | | learners in a receptive frame of mind for |
| | | | learning. Songs with lyrics, especially |
| $100,000, to acquire the rights for the | | | | |
| song.Sylwester, in his book A Celebration of | | | | popular hits of the last 50 years, are |
| Neurons, went on to explain:"The songs of our | | | | extremely useful for this reason. They are |
| adolescent years often become the beacons of | | | | old, |
| our adult life | | | | |
| | | | well worn, welcome friends."Songs with |
| because they can help us to recall the | | | | lyrics also engage learner brains in multiple |
| important developments of our adolescence. | | | | ways. The words and rhythm |
| | | | |
| We often listen to this music to relive the | | | | of a song are largely processed in the |
| memories in the extended reverie of song. | | | | brain's left hemisphere, where the melody is |
| | | | |
| The song slows the simple message so that we | | | | largely processed by the right hemisphere. |
| can savor all the emotions of the | | | | By using songs with lyrics, you help your |
| | | | |
| experience."In a film composer's hands, pop | | | | learners engage both hemispheres. In the |
| songs are chosen and linked to those memories | | | | process, they gain a deeper meaning than |
| in | | | | |
| | | | is possible with one hemisphere alone.Song |
| a way that adds emotional texture to the | | | | lyrics can, as was the case in The Big Chill, |
| film. Films with pop music scores function | | | | speak directly to the learning topic. |
| | | | |
| on two distinct levels. The first level is | | | | The many applications are too numerous to |
| the application of the song in the film. | | | | state in this one article, but a few |
| Every | | | | |
| | | | examples should prove the point:Career |
| song lyric tells a story and a well placed | | | | planning - "All Star" by Smash Mouth |
| song's story will dovetail with the film's | | | | |
| | | | Change management - "Bad Day" by Daniel |
| visual.The second, and deeper, level is the | | | | Powter |
| emotional meaning the use of specific songs | | | | |
| | | | Communication - "Hello, Goodbye" by the |
| brings forth within the listener. The songs | | | | Beatles |
| become metaphors, placing the subject | | | | |
| | | | Conflict management - "Shut Up" by the Black |
| to be taught in the context of the learners | | | | Eye Peas |
| prior experiences. When people hear | | | | |
| | | | Customer service - "Lean On Me" by Bill |
| songs they know, and have personal memories | | | | Withers |
| of, they immediately are drawn back | | | | |
| | | | Diversity - "Short People" by Randy Newman |
| into those memories, and the experience is | | | | |
| enhanced. In essence, pop music helps | | | | Finance - "Takin' Care of Business" by |
| | | | Bachman-Turner Overdrive |
| us relate to the story being told in a | | | | |
| deeply personal, highly emotional way.Three | | | | Project Management - "One Little Slip" by |
| famous films used this technique to achieve | | | | the Bare Naked Ladies |
| success.American Graffiti (1973), telling the | | | | |
| story of a group of early 1960s high | | | | Sexual harassment - "Respect" by Aretha |
| | | | Franklin |
| schoolers enjoying a last summer before | | | | |
| adulthood, was intentionally designed as a | | | | Time management - "Right Place, Wrong Time" |
| | | | by Dr. JohnOnce you've decided on an |
| series of pop music vignettes. George Lucas, | | | | appropriate song, placement is simple |
| the film's director, developed the | | | | Considering the |
| | | | |
| storyline, and selected the songs to almost | | | | Randy Newman song "Short People" for |
| simultaneously.Each scene matched the length | | | | example:Introduction - Play the song as the |
| of the song accompanying it. For example, | | | | learners enter. Once the song is over call |
| Bill | | | | |
| | | | attention to the songs lyrics and ask for |
| Haley's "Rock Around The Clock," played | | | | comments about the meaning conveyed by |
| during the opening credits, set up the | | | | |
| | | | those lyrics. Use those comments as a |
| film's innocence of summer theme. The | | | | transition to your presentation.Filler - Play |
| Crests' "Sixteen Candles" accompanied a | | | | the song during breaks to add a subliminal |
| | | | message to your content.Activity - Divide |
| young girls sixteenth birthday. "Teen Angel" | | | | your learners into groups and instruct them |
| by Mark Dinning was played when a | | | | to read and discuss the |
| | | | |
| character dies in a drag race. The film ends | | | | lyrics. Then lead a general discussion to |
| with the Spaniels' "Goodnight, Well It's | | | | share each group's observations.Conclusion - |
| | | | Conclude your session by stating, "We are all |
| Time To Go."The Big Chill tells the story of | | | | short people in |
| a group of former 1960s radicals turned | | | | |
| | | | someone's eyes." Then ask the rhetorical |
| 1980s yuppies who gather to mourn the | | | | question, "If none of us were welcome |
| passing of an old friend. Like American | | | | |
| | | | around here, who would be left to complete |
| Graffiti, The Big Chill uses pop songs, | | | | our work?" Start the song and thank |
| although in this case, to add commentary to | | | | |
| | | | everyone for attending. Your learners will |
| the on-screen occurrences.Marvin Gaye's "I | | | | walk out of the classroom with the song |
| Heard It Through The Grapevine" accompanied | | | | |
| the actors as they | | | | and its lyrics firmly implanted in their |
| | | | brains, and you will have closed with a |
| hear about their friend's passing. "You | | | | visually |
| Can't Always Get What You Want" by the | | | | |
| | | | powerful learning point.Given the large |
| Rolling Stones is played as an ironic | | | | number of pop songs available, the options |
| commentary on the friend's death. As the | | | | are limited only by your |
| | | | |
| friends discuss relationships, The Young | | | | imagination and the musical preferences of |
| Rascals "Good Lovin'" is performed. Finally, | | | | your learners. You too can have your |
| | | | |
| "Bad Moon Rising'" by Credence Clearwater | | | | learners, in the words of the old song by |
| Revival is played immediately after a | | | | "M", "talkin' 'bout pop music."Please respect |
| | | | song owner rights. Consult your organization |
| former lover proposes that she and her old | | | | before you use another |
| flame reunite for an evening.The best | | | | |
| subconscious music placement occurs in a | | | | person's musical composition.Visit Lenn on |
| supermarket between the two | | | | line at |
| | | | |
| former lovers who contemplate rekindling | | | | Blog with Lenn at Millbower, BM, MA, the |
| their relationship. Although their desire | | | | Learnertainment(R) Trainer is an expert in |
| | | | applying |
| for each other is palpable, both hold back, | | | | |
| only conversing about the shopping task | | | | show biz techniques to learning. He is the |
| | | | author of the ASTD Info-Line, Music as a |
| at hand as the store's Muzak system plays | | | | |
| Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In The | | | | Training Tool, focused on the practical |
| Night."Forest Gump tells the story of a | | | | application of music to learning; Show Biz |
| dimwitted man who experiences a series of | | | | |
| | | | Training, the definitive book on the |
| life adventures over several decades. | | | | application of entertainment industry |
| Because the film's extended time frame, the | | | | |
| | | | techniques to training; Cartoons for |
| music serves to establish the time and | | | | Trainers, a popular collection of 75 cartoons |
| place.Credence Clearwater Revival's | | | | for |
| "Fortunate Son" sets up Gump's Vietnam tour. | | | | |
| To | | | | learning; Game Show Themes for Trainers, a |
| | | | best-selling CD of original learning |
| state that Forest's girlfriend has moved to | | | | |
| California, California Dreaming" by the | | | | game music; and Training with a Beat: The |
| | | | Teaching Power of Music, the foremost |
| Mamas and Papas is used. "San Francisco" by | | | | |
| Scott Mackenzie frames Forest's 1960s | | | | book on the application of music to |
| | | | learning. Lenn is an in-demand speaker, with |
| visit to San Francisco. When Forest returns | | | | |
| home to Alabama, Lynyrd Skynyrd's | | | | successful presentations at ASTD 1999-2005 |
| | | | and SHRM 2006; a creative and |
| "Sweet Home Alabama" is played. These music | | | | |
| placements help the films listeners | | | | dynamic instructional designer and |
| | | | facilitator formally with the Disney |
| comprehend the different locations and eras | | | | University |
| represented in the film.American Graffiti, | | | | |
| The Big Chill, and Forest Gump were all | | | | and Disney Institute; an accomplished |
| highly successful films, | | | | arranger-composer skilled in the |
| | | | |
| and their pop song application played a huge | | | | psychological application of music to |
| part in creating that success. All three | | | | learning; a popular comedian, magician and |
| | | | |
| films appealed to people at a deeply | | | | musician; and the president of Offbeat |
| personal level.Pop Songs in Learning | | | | Training(R), infusing entertainment-based |
| | | | |
| In Training With A Beat, I discussed at | | | | techniques into learning to keep 'em awake! |