Mix in Music

"Music is the art of thinking with sound." Jules"Pong." Pong offered a limited visual
CobarieThe Continuing Serenadepresence, and more importantly, an auditory
Music is the rhythmic accompaniment to our lives.signal that consisted of only a single
People are born to music, study"pong" as the electronic ball bounced from side to
to music, drive, eat, sleep, and dream to music.side.Home video games progressed from this
People spend more money on musicsimple beginning, becoming more
than on books, and music stars become our idolsinteractive and visually stimulating, while largely
and companions.We expect to hear an auditoryignoring the auditory signal. Like
signal and will usually supply one when none exists.silent films, home video games didn't emanate
warmth. And also like silent films,
Some people will talk to avoid silence. Others willthe bottom fell out of the home video game
leave a TV or radio on in themarket. By 1984 American stores were
background, or provide their own music byrefusing to carry video games.And then in 1985
singing, humming, rapping or whistling.something revolutionary happened. Nintendo
An extreme example is person who whistlesintroduced gamers
while walking through a graveyard.to the Super Mario Brothers. By 1990, Mario the
Their auditory signal adds comfort and warmthItalian plumber was recognized by
to the cold and forebodingmore American children than Mickey Mouse!Super
environment.The auditory signal is critical toMario Brothers succeeded because it was a
success in live training. Imagine training devoid ofcomplete package, offering
audio (no laughter, no conversation and nostriking visuals and, more importantly, auditory
lecture) and you see the point. Audio iscoherence. Lead designer Shigeru
present in training. What that auditoryMiyamoto in describing the game's design stated,
presentation lacks is variety, especially where"The state of mind of a kid when
music is concerned.Composer George Burt oncehe enters a cave alone must be realized in the
commented, "When we see pictures and heargame. Going in, he must feel the cold
music atair around him. Not just the experiences but the
the same time we invariably make a connection,feelings connected with those
if only on an unconscious level."events were essential to make the game
When music is combined with informationmeaningful." The game's music was
powerful brain connections occur.instrumental in connecting those feelings.Mix In
Anyone who learned their ABCs by singing aMusic
song, learned to say words by watchingFortunately for live training, it already has an
Sesame Street, or remembers the song thataudio signal: the trainer.
was playing on the radio during a criticalUnfortunately, listening to that one auditory signal
moment in their life knows first hand the powerall day makes for really boring
of auditory signals.There is ample evidence of thetraining. It's not an accident that we refer to it as
effectiveness of music in aiding learning. A wealth"death by lecture."Film composer George Burt
ofonce observed, "When placed together (video and
studies from the education, musicology andaudio)
health care fields demonstrate theto achieve a common goal, a great deal more is
effectiveness of music in increasing learning,expressed than would be possible
healing and self-esteem.by means of either medium alone." Music, when
History also proves the point. Twice in the past,properly inserted into the training
audio and video were separate andenvironment can lift some of the cold, lifeless
then combined. The result was electrifying.Soundquality that often typifies training.Among other
Winsusages, music can provide cover for silent
The first silent films were short scenes lastingactivities and small group
only a minute or two. They werediscussions, announce the beginning and ending of
immediate, but short lived sensations. Absolutebreaks, reflect the emotions of
silence, the total absence of boththe learning and enhance activities.Twice in
voice and musical sound proved to be a deadlyhistory an audio-visual medium faced a
combination. Viewing a silent filmcrossroads. In both cases, success
was described as "cold and bare, ghostly, lifelessresulted when the auditory and the visual signals
and colorless."Fortunately for the theater owners,were integrated. Trainers who,
musicians were already on their payroll. Thewith history as their guide, integrate the auditory
theater owners told the musicians to playcomponent will gain a huge
something, anything. They did, and itadvantage over the competition. They will never
worked. Music became so effective at solvinghear complaints about "death by
these problems that film critics of thelecture."Visit Lenn on line at
era called music the "flame which brought life andBlog with Lenn at Millbower, BM, MA, the
warmth" to the experience.Learnertainment(R) Trainer is an expert in applying
Live music accompaniment continued out of
necessity until The Warner Brother'sshow biz techniques to learning. He is the author
"talking" picture "The Jazz Singer" came out inof the ASTD Info-Line, Music as a
1927. Within one year, silent filmsTraining Tool, focused on the practical application
were extinct! Silent film stars, directors,of music to learning; Show Biz
musicians, and non-talkie theater locationsTraining, the definitive book on the application of
went silent themselves. The public had spokenentertainment industry
for sound.Several years later radio found itselftechniques to training; Cartoons for Trainers, a
threatened by television. Radio networks fearedpopular collection of 75 cartoons for
that the combined audio and video signals of TVlearning; Game Show Themes for Trainers, a
would put them out of business.best-selling CD of original learning
There were some dislocations, but radio did notgame music; and Training with a Beat: The
die.The comparison between silent films and radioTeaching Power of Music, the foremost
is instructive. When people had abook on the application of music to learning. Lenn
choice between a solitary auditory signal (radio)is an in-demand speaker, with
or an auditory signal combined withsuccessful presentations at ASTD 1999-2005 and
a visual signal they favored the combination, butSHRM 2006; a creative and
still patronized the audio signal.dynamic instructional designer and facilitator
Conversely, when people had a choice betweenformally with the Disney University
a solely visual signal (silent films) orand Disney Institute; an accomplished
one combined with audio, they, by acclimation,arranger-composer skilled in the
chose the combined signal. TVpsychological application of music to learning; a
AFFECTED radio. Talkies DESTROYED silent film.popular comedian, magician and
Sound won.Sound Wins Againmusician; and the president of Offbeat
Home video games had been around since theTraining(R), infusing entertainment-based
late 1970s when Atari introduced thetechniques into learning to keep 'em awake!
home video game equivalent of the silent film: