Natalie Cox Harp Music

Activities for using music in TEFL

In some of my previous English as a foreign Language Teaching articles we’ve opened discussion over the varied uses of music in the English as a Foreign Language and other foreign language learning classrooms. Activities for using music to “time” exercises and class activities (restrictive pacing), music to help in controlling the mood of the learners (the Affective Filter hypothesis) and the effect of music on the brain itself are topics that have been previously broached.

You Call THAT Music?

What music exactly though? While some suggestions as to types of music have been offered, up to this point we haven’t specifically named pieces of music actually proven to be effective in EFL class room use. I did provide some songs with links to a few vocal hits from the 70s in the article, “You Call THAT Music?” I’ve likewise named composers predominantly in use in EFL and ESL class rooms. Among those cited were the following classical music composers. This time however, I’m adding specific pieces of music that you can use.

o Beethoven – Sonata for Piano No. 8 in C Opus 13 “Pathetique” (Adagio Cantabile), and Sonata for Piano No. 24 in F Sharp Minor (A Therese) Opus 78

NOTE: There a free classical music radio station online featuring Beethoven at http://www.beethoven.com/

o Mozart – Symphony No. 40 in G minor (Alegro Molto), String Quartet in G Major,

Piano Concerto No. 21 (“Elvira Madigan”) Adagio, and Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor “Romance”

o Bach – Bouree in E Minor (arranged for guitar), Air on the G String, and “Aria De Capo”

o Vivaldi – “The Four Seasons” (Winter and Spring especially)

o Schubert – Serenade No. 4

o Chopin – Nocturne No. 8 in D Flat Major Opus 27, and Nocturne No. 1 in B Flat Minor Opus 9

o Tchaikovsky – Andante Cantible for Violoncello and Orchestra Opus 11

o Brahms – “Lullaby”

o Debussy – Pavane in E Minor (Arranged for Guitar)

It Boggles the Mind

This is just a drop in the bucket start. There are so many others it practically boggles the mind. If learners like a particular piece and so comment on it, I have them investigate further for an added dimension to their learning. To help you get started in this endeavor, I’ve provided some initial musical information for each composer. Hopefully, you’ll soon enjoy using music for a variety of purposes in your foreign language learning classroom as much as I do. If you have any questions, comments or simply would like more information, please feel free to contact me.

By: Larry M. Lynch

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classical music

“Christian Rock”, a title often scoffed at by traditional rock artists, enthusiasts & critics alike is gaining popularity and stamping its place as a sort after genre for the young generation of head-banging, mosh-pitting gurus! Didn’t Christian rock die a couple of years ago, you ask? Christian rock music is growing faster than ever before with Daily News of Christian Rock Music, new artists & albums streaming across the Internet and pumping the airways continuously every day. So where did this God Rock come from? I mean this is new right?

This type of rock music wasn’t around 20 years ago, was it? Well I didn’t think so until recently, the reality is Christian music or should I say Christian rock music has been around apparently from the dawn of creation! So why seeing it today all the time? Where were they hiding and what happened to the voice of damnation for those participating in anything other than a church hymn or Sunday school choir? Well the chastity belt of today’s Christian rock is alive and well. There are many religious organizations who oppose this form of music, I will talk more about this opposition later.

Most Christians are in favor of this “movement” feeling that Christian rock music is another way to reach people with the importance of the Christian faith. So why the controversy?, what is so different about Non-Christian rock music in comparison to Christian rock? Many have asked this question and instead of quoting Mr. Bob Dylan “the answer is blowing in the wind”, I thought I would look into this more closely and check out the facts and see why there is so much “opposition” to the sounds of “thumping grace”. After reviewing many rock & heavy metal music bands and performances and then compared them to their Christian counterparts, I did see differences but not many! The stage performance was very similar with the exception of Non-Christian heavy metal revealing more of a dark or sadistic side at times in general there was little if any change in production or presentation from Christian rock to standard or Non-Christian music. The only real difference I could find was the lyrical content, with Christian rock music quoting words from the Bible and preaching family values.

So why was Christian rock music inward for so many years, seemingly hiding in the shadows from more conservative members of the Christian community? Well apparently they weren’t seeking refuge in some dark cave at all, it’s just that I like many people didn’t even know they were around back then! Good old fashioned Christian rock bands like Petra, Stryper, Bloodgood, Whitecross and Tourniquet have been rocking Christians and secular music lovers alike for generations.

The voice of rock damnation is still screaming louder than ever in some Christian circles although seemingly falling on deaf ears of a Christian Rocker community that grows bigger every day. Who opposes this Christian liberation? Who else but other Christians! It seems some segments of who have not advanced to modern day sounds are Bible bashing these Christian rock music enthusiasts with eternal consequences for their “lack of understanding”. The most dramatic example I came across was the seventh day adventist (SDA) church who proclaim that Christian rock music is quote “Devil music”. The SDA church preach that all rock music has the “beat of the devil” borrowed from primitive heathen rituals, beating in time with the body’s “natural rhythms”. I found it hard to understand that anyone could think this way at first, but indeed it is true and they are very serious about stamping out any and all rock music, or anything for that matter that has a drum beat!

By: Sam Wilkinson

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