Hearing is one of the primary senses we rely upon when processing information, so using sound, especially music, can be an effective tool for teaching history. Music is an excellent primary source that gives us an intimate peek into the emotions, lives, and experiences of past generations in an unique, and often very emotional, way. However, music is often overlooked in the museum as well as the traditional classroom.
Here are some easy ways to integrate music into your museum education programs:
- Play period-appropriate music in the background of a house museum
- Include music in pre-recorded self-guided tours
- Schedule a live performance with historical music and/or instruments
- Incorporate music listening stations into exhibits
- Plan a sing-a-long time in children’s programs
- Integrate pre-recorded music or sheet music into lesson plans or traveling trunks
- Utilize musicians for living history events
- Host a period-correct dance party
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