HOME SESSIONS ABOUT US CONTACT US
USING MUSIC
1. Why do we use dance music in our sessions?
- It creates an atmosphere that is energetic and intense
- It can improve mood and enhance flow states
- It makes MoF unique and different
- It can be used as a teaching tool
- It can increase work-rate (with same/less perceived effort)
- Children can get lost in their own world and can’t hear parents or coaches (therefore become independent learners)
- Behaviour is improved as children can’t distract each other
- Parents can relax as they know their instructions/yells can’t be heard
2. Operating the music machine
Where two groups are sharing the music machine, it may be that coaches decide that one group will have main control of the music system. However coaches should work together to make sure the music is used effectively. A good way to do this is to place the music system between the two groups.
The volume is easy to turn up/down. And the music system is easy to wheel around – move it to where you need it to get the maximum benefit.
Because of the use of music, some activities that may usually work in some programmes do not work so well at MoF. For example, a numbers game where the coach has to shout numbers out will require silence while the coach is shouting so the players can hear. This is difficult in a music session (although not impossible – the coach could adjust the volume of the music system, lowering it to call number). This should be taken into consideration when thinking about designing/picking activities for sessions.
3. Using the music as a teaching tool
Use the volume functionality on the music system to turn the music off/on or up/down quickly.
When loud music is on, the children cannot hear each other well and distractions are minimal. As soon as you turn the music off, there is a sudden silence. Often the children will stop what they are doing. As a coach you have instant attention of the group.
Warning: You will have instant attention for about 20 seconds only! So be quick and effective in what you want to do. Before you turn the music off, think about what you want to say/demo. A good way of using this time is to get a child to show you something they’ve just done. For example, if you’re doing some turning and you see a child doing something special, then drop the music, and get them to show everyone. When you’ve finished, music back on loud again and let the children play and experiment again.