Page 187 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 05 11/20/02 12:13 PM Page 176
176 The Creative Training Idea Book
heavy metal or modern rock might generate frowns from an audience of age 50 plus cor-
porate executives. Eric Jensen’s book Music with the Brain in Mind gives hundreds of ideas
related to which types of songs can aid various training activities (see Creative Presen-
tation Resources in the Resources for Trainers section of the appendices).
As previously mentioned, there are many ways to include music in your sessions.
You can use prerecorded classical music or songs that you record yourself from CDs or
the Internet. A variety of Baroque, nature sounds, and classical music selections have been
recorded on CDs to use specifically with activities in which the goal is productivity,
creativity, relaxation, or fun. You can also purchase songs, television theme songs, and
specially created game show type music for use in games or other group activities (see
Creative Presentation Resources in the Resources for Trainers section of the appendices).
The choice is really yours.
Another point to remember about music is that you should not make it a major part
of your program. Like any other training aid, music should be used to support your
material and delivery, not substitute for it. Keep its use to no more than 10–20 percent
of total learning time.

BRIGHT I DEA
Using Music Creatively
n addition to using prerecorded music to accomplish a variety of goals and affect
Ilearner moods, you can get participants actively involved. One suggestion is to
form small groups that are then asked to come up with a creative team name for
each group. Next, have them create a rap song or modify the words to a well known
song (e.g., “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” “Happy Birthday,” or “Somewhere Over the
Rainbow”). When creating their song, have participants use key characteristics
possessed by team members (e.g., skills, abilities, attributes, and so forth), or key
concepts from the session.
Be conscious of the diversity of your group when selecting songs. Select songs
not likely to offend, such as tunes with political or religious themes (e.g., Christmas
songs or historical songs connected to events such as the U.S. Civil War).
A final consideration when using music is to respect and comply with copyright
laws. The law is very specific about when and how copyright protected material,
such as music, can be used. In 1998, the United States Congress passed the Sonny
Bono Copyright Term Extension to the Federal Copyright Law. It changed the length
that a piece is copyrighted from the end of the life of the originator plus 50 years to
life plus 70 years for 1978 works and beyond, and from 75 to 95 years for pre-1978
works.
Any failure to comply with federal and international copyright laws can result in
liability and embarrassment for you and your organization. Before using written
material or songs, obtain written permission from the copyright holder or become