A Teaching Playlist
Music is important for many of us—it relaxes us when we are feeling stressed, it picks us up when we need some lift, it—wait. I don’t think I need to sell music. You get it. Anyway, if you’re into it, you might consider putting together a playlist for your classes. It can set the tone for the day and be a welcoming pedagogical gesture for your students. You might curate a playlist that corresponds to different parts of the class. Maybe you have a playlist you play for the first five minutes of class. Perhaps you play some more high-energy music mid-class after an in-depth explainer on the final essay assignment. Finally, perhaps you have a closing playlist. For some inspo, below are some songs I chose from various instrumental playlists I found on Apple Music (Spotify also has similar playlists).
First Five Minutes:
I’ve opened up certain classes with a music playlist. I played a lot of alternative R&B (H.E.R., Ella Mae, etc.) in the past, but have since settled on instrumental music. The songs here are in an R&B/soul/jazz vein. I chose instrumental music for these playlists because some find songs with lyrical content distracting (also, you won’t have to scan the songs for content this way). I’d play music like this for the first five minutes of class, while students are arriving and getting situated. This playlist may also be on while I do the first activity in-class (like Draw Your Feelings).
“Gardens” by LAKEY INSPIRED
“Zephyr” by Makzo, [ocean jams], and jacuzzi jefferson
“Cruisin” by Loop Schrauber and TRIBEZ.
“So Many Clouds” by oomiee
“Worth the Weight” by Utah
Mid-Lecture Pick-Me-Up:
I might play these songs mid-class, if there’s a break between activities or if we (instructor, students) need a pick-me-up. I tried to find instrumental songs that had a bit more energy than the relaxing songs I put together for the first five minutes.
“Snow Flow” by Cookin Soul and L. Dre
“Lostyamind” by Cookin Soul
“Workitout” by Hands
“Storm” by Godspeed You! Black Emperor
Final Five Minutes:
During the last five minutes of class, I generally have students write reflection essays. I usually play music while the students write. These are the quietest songs of the three lists.
“Blue Boi” by LAKEY INSPIRED
“Suga Suga” (Instrumental) by Baby Bash
“Blueberry Muffins” by Drxnk and Living Room
“Travel Buddies” by Tibeauthetraveler, Theo Aabel and Amess
“Shadows” by ASTON
Student-curated Playlist:
You can also obviously ask your students to contribute to the playlists you use in class. You probably want to monitor content if the songs aren’t instrumental, or you can request that the songs they choose be instrumental. You might, just as a side-exercise, ask students to think of (they don’t have to share publicly) songs that inspire or motivate them, or just make them happy—as a ritual exercise or a prompt for a low-stakes writing assignment. You might even turn this prompt into a bigger assignment, if it makes sense for your course.
Will you or do you incorporate music in your classes? What do you think it brings to your class, if you do?