Education is always changing.
When I first started teaching, written work was the gold standard for proving student understanding. If it wasn’t neatly typedg, handwritten, or formatted in a Google Doc, it didn’t "count" as evidence of learning. But over the years, education has evolved, and now, we recognize something that great teachers have always known—meaningful discussions hold immense value in determining and evaluating learning.
This shift has been exciting, but it has also come with new challenges.
- How do you structure something as fluid as student conversations? Many teachers feel uneasy navigating discussions in real time, questioning how to assess understanding without traditional grading.
- How do you get students to actually talk—especially in an academic way? Middle schoolers, in particular, are experts at short answers and off-topic side conversations.
Creating a space where underage learners feel comfortable discussing ideas without slipping into chaos is an art form.
For me, music is the key to solving both of these challenges.
One of My Most Powerful Classroom Tools
Teachers have lesson plans, projectors, whiteboards, and digital tools—but my biggest classroom asset isn’t something fancy or high-tech. It’s my Spotify app and my beat-up, 20-year-old Bose speaker system.
Music has transforms my classroom into a space where students feel safe to speak, engage deeply, and stay focused. It gives me an effortless way to control the energy of the room while also reinforcing the expectation that discussion is a natural and essential part of learning.
Here’s how I use music to address some of the biggest shifts happening in education today.
1. Music as a Classroom Conversation Starter 🎶💬
Getting students to talk isn’t always easy—especially when you're pushing for meaningful, academic discussions. Silence can feel intimidating, and middle schoolers often default to quick, surface-level responses rather than diving deep.
Instead of forcing participation, I let the music do the work.
How It Works:
When I ask a question, I wait. If I don’t get much engagement, I rephrase it. Then, I turn the music up slightly and let students discuss.
At first, this might seem counterintuitive—won’t the music be a distraction? Not at all. In fact, it has the opposite effect.
Why It Works:
✔️ It removes the pressure of silence. Many students hesitate to speak up because they don’t want to be overheard by the entire class. The music creates a comfortable background noise that makes them feel less exposed when they share their thoughts.
✔️ It signals that conversations are expected. When the music plays, it’s discussion time. When it fades, it’s time to refocus. This non-verbal cue keeps the classroom flowing smoothly without me having to constantly redirect students.
✔️ It builds confidence. Over time, students start to associate the sound of music with open discussions, and even my quietest students begin contributing more freely.
🔹 Example: In a science class, if I ask, “Why does increasing temperature speed up a chemical reaction?”, I might get one-word responses at first. But when I turn the music up and let students talk through their thinking, they start explaining in more detail, using academic language without me always having to force it. Making some sentence stems available can be a useful tool as well.
2. Music as a Noise Regulator 🔊📢
Middle school classrooms operate at two extremes—dead silence or pure chaos—with very little in between. Managing noise levels without constantly shushing students is one of the toughest challenges teachers face.
Music solves this problem beautifully.
How It Works:
- During group discussions, I play upbeat, but not overpowering music at a moderate volume. This keeps students engaged and sets a natural rhythm for conversation.
- During independent work, I shift to lo-fi, classical, or instrumental music at a lower volume, signaling that it’s time to focus.
- During transitions or cleanup, I use music to guide movement—fast songs for quick transitions, slower songs to calm the energy.
Why It Works:
✔️ It sets the tone for different activities without me having to say a word.
✔️ It gives students an audio cue for when to be louder or quieter.
✔️ It prevents me from constantly managing volume—instead, students naturally adjust to the level of the music.
🔹 Example: If students are getting too loud during an activity, I don’t tell them to quiet down—I turn the music down slightly. It’s a subtle reminder to adjust their volume. If I need their attention, I fade the music out or shut it off abruptly, and without fail, the class naturally quiets down.
3. Music as an Energy Shifter ⚡🎵
One of the biggest challenges in teaching is reading the energy of the room and adjusting accordingly.
- Need to wake up a sleepy class? Play something upbeat before launching into the lesson.
- Need to bring down a hyper group? Slow the tempo, lower the volume, and let the music reset the energy.
- Need to reduce stress before a test? Soft instrumentals help students relax and focus.
Why It Works:
✔️ It eliminates dead space—instead of awkward silence, there’s a smooth transition between activities.
✔️ It helps students refocus quickly—music provides a natural way to reset attention spans.
✔️ It creates an emotional connection to learning—students associate certain types of music with different learning modes, making it easier to engage.
Some of the coolest conversations I have with students is about a song a played, one they showed me, or a moment that a certain song reminds them of. The vibes are in fact real and music hits us on a deeper level than we typically give it credit for.
The Ultimate Classroom Playlist – 256 Hours of Music
Over the last decade, I’ve built a classroom-friendly playlist that’s over 4,000 songs long—enough for 256 hours of continuous play before hearing a repeat.
🎵 Check it out here: Spotify Playlist
✔️ No inappropriate lyrics—so you don’t have to worry about surprises.
✔️ A mix of focus-friendly and engaging tracks.
✔️ Enough variety to fit every classroom mood and activity.
Education is changing, and teachers need new tools to meet these challenges head-on. Music is one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to enhance learning, regulate classroom energy, and foster deep, meaningful discussions.