-For our adult patrons: sit in a quiet place, comfortable chair, close your eyes and breathe deeply while listening to a selection from below.
-For child/students and parents/teachers: we suggest starting with 1-2 minutes of music at the beginning of each school day. Please follow
instructions below.
instructions below.
How to listen to Classical Music:
Listening to classical music helps students choose on which sound their attention should be focused. When a student trains his/her brain to concentrate on specific sounds, sensory awareness is heightened. Monitoring the auditory experience, noting what they focus on and respond to, helps build self-management and self-awareness skills.
Listening to classical music helps students choose on which sound their attention should be focused. When a student trains his/her brain to concentrate on specific sounds, sensory awareness is heightened. Monitoring the auditory experience, noting what they focus on and respond to, helps build self-management and self-awareness skills.
How do I practice mindful listening with my child/students?
Before playing the music, make sure that the students have a good listening place where they can sit with their eyes closed.
Play a piece (or excerpt) from the audio files provided and have the students:
Before playing the music, make sure that the students have a good listening place where they can sit with their eyes closed.
Play a piece (or excerpt) from the audio files provided and have the students:
- Sit up tall like a mountain and think of the spine as a stack of coins.
- If seated in a chair or bench, feet are flat on the floor or hanging calmly and still. If seated on the floor, make sure legs and feet are still.
- Hands are resting gently on the lap or knees.
- Eyes are softly closed or their gaze directed downward.
What do I say during the listening activity?
Say things such as:
Say things such as:
- As you listen to the music, remember to breathe in and out deeply and focus on the music.
- What pictures do you see in your mind?
- Does it tell a story?
- Notice how your body feels (in the chair, on the floor...etc.).
- What colors do you see?
- What images?
- If this music were found in a movie, what would be happening
- How does this music make you feel? Happy?, Sad?, etc...
What do I do if my child/students have trouble with mindful listening?
This type of activity is very personal and takes a lot of practice. If students seem like their attention is faltering, say, “If your mind wanders, that is ok – that’s what minds do...just bring your attention back to the music. Notice how your body feels right now – at this very moment. Again, let your mind see the colors, pictures and moods in the music.”
This type of activity is very personal and takes a lot of practice. If students seem like their attention is faltering, say, “If your mind wanders, that is ok – that’s what minds do...just bring your attention back to the music. Notice how your body feels right now – at this very moment. Again, let your mind see the colors, pictures and moods in the music.”
How does the mindful listening end?
After listening for 1-2 minutes, lower the volume of the music slowly and say, ”When you are ready, slowly open your eyes.”
After listening for 1-2 minutes, lower the volume of the music slowly and say, ”When you are ready, slowly open your eyes.”
What now?
Talk about all of the student responses. Remember that there are no “wrong” answers – use open-ended questions to expand the activity. Try using these questions in response to your students:
Talk about all of the student responses. Remember that there are no “wrong” answers – use open-ended questions to expand the activity. Try using these questions in response to your students:
- What did you hear that made you think of that?
- Tell me more about what in the music made you feel (happy, sad, lonely, afraid, etc.).
- Why does the music make me feel this way?
- What does the music remind me of?
- Can you add more details to that?
- What did the composer/musician do to make you think of that?
Extension
This listening practice can be used every day. Have relaxing and calm music playing as your students enter the room each day. Have them learn the listening procedure and eventually it will become natural. This is a great way to start their music-learning day, mind sharp, body relaxed, and brain ready for learning.
Adapted from Settle Your Glitter - A Social Emotional Health Curriculum by Momentous Institute 2015
This listening practice can be used every day. Have relaxing and calm music playing as your students enter the room each day. Have them learn the listening procedure and eventually it will become natural. This is a great way to start their music-learning day, mind sharp, body relaxed, and brain ready for learning.
Adapted from Settle Your Glitter - A Social Emotional Health Curriculum by Momentous Institute 2015