If you’ve ever been in a classroom setting, you can probably remember the monotony of a former teacher’s voice, the droning of the air conditioner, and the quiet pencil taps from students writing around you. And suddenly, you were off in “la-la land.” While that time may have felt wasted, your brain was actually firing off rapidly, making neural connections, and integrating memories in a very personal, very self-relevant way.
Just like your computer’s screensaver turns on when your computer is inactive for a certain amount of time, your brain goes into default mode when you sit and daydream. As it turns out, relaxing and daydreaming are actually the best way to “think.”
What Is Default Mode?
When we sit back with no particular mental engagement, an amazing thing happens. Our brains and our students’ brains go into “default mode.” This mode network helps students make connections between information that they already know and new information through mental stimulation. Default mode leads to deeper understanding and the ability to see things in different perspectives. When we look at things differently, we learn problem solving skills.
Connecting the Brain Through Music
We already know that the human brain goes into default mode when we daydream, but what happens when we incorporate music into this time? Listening to music helps activate the default mode regions in our brains, energizes our spirits, affects our moods, and helps us learn new things.
When students are allowed to listen to their favorite genre of music, their brains are able to connect the music with the learning material––making certain subjects more relatable. The catchiness and familiarity of a song makes it easy for the brain to connect the music to the task, resulting in permanent connections.
Don’t Box Them In
Music is an important part of a child’s learning and development process. Using music to teach in the classroom is a great way to form permanent connections in your students’ brains. Go ahead and set aside some time for your students to daydream. Don’t box them in—after all, they don’t know that there is a box.
For more information about music-related activities to do with your child, visit our blog.