8 Tips to CONNECT Your Dance Students to MUSIC |

by Adam Taub

In this blog post I'm going to be focusing on ways that we can connect our students to the music. I think intuitively we all understand how fundamental and how essential music is to the dance experience, but a lot of times when planning a class, or even when dancing, music gets put to the side. As some of you know I've done a lot of documentary film work with Bachata musicians. I also teach dance classes but my real, deep, introduction to Bachata music and dance was really through documentary film work with Bachata musicians. In some ways that connection came first for me. That connection with the music is fundamental and so important for dancers.

1. Spend More Time Planning the Music in Your Class

Something we can do to enhance our student’s connection with the music actually begins before the class even starts and that’s during the planning phase of the class. So, I would say spend more time selecting and thinking about the music you are going to use in your class, before the class actually starts. You want to choose appropriate music for the level of class in terms of tempo, also the age group you are teaching to. Maybe they connect with one musician or a certain sound, or era of Bachata more than the others, so that’s one thing to consider, is my music appropriate for the class I am teaching. In addition, you really want to pick music that you are also passionate about, that you are excited to hear and excited to teach to, because that in turn will translate to your students, that excitement, that passion. You also want to be able to select music that is diverse in terms of tempo, emotion, feeling, in terms of artists presented, and in terms of sound, the era. Maybe you are using newer stuff for the majority of the class, but you throw in some music from the 90's or from the 70's, or 80's. Just exposing your students is a real important part of even a dance workshop, is exposing people to diverse music, to different sounds. That way they have a richer experience when they go out social dancing, or they go out into the world, because they have these relationships with diverse music. So that’s a really important part of the class.

2. Help Your Students Listen Deeply

Another way to connect them is throughout the class point out different ways they might listen to or hear the music. You might point out particular sounds, or instruments, or relationships between instruments. You might point out the vocals or the lyrics, the lead guitar, or the bass. Encourage your students to listen. Also, within the class, give them a space where they can just dance or listen. Where they don't always have to be "performing" or "doing" a technique. Where they are not always in their head but able to just experience it, and enjoy themselves, and enjoy the music.

3. Mention Song Titles and Artists During Class

Another thing I would say, and this is pretty easy to do throughout a dance class is mention song title, mention the artist name. Your class may not be a Bachata musicality class and it may not be a class that focuses on Bachata music, but throughout your class you can, before you turn on the song say a little bit about it. You can say the name of the song, even if they don't remember it you are giving importance by mentioning the artist name and by mentioning the song title, you are telling your students this is important. The music we are dancing to is important. So, mention the artists name, mention the song title if you can, and make that a habit, and that will help reinforce to your students that this connection to the music is fundamental, it's important.

6. Provide Resources for Your Students in Class or Online

Another thing you can do is offer them resources, either online, on your website, or your social media, or even within the class. You could have a poster with the song titles, and artists that you use that they could then take a photo of. They could take those music suggestions home with them. You could have a poster of the music, either that you use in class or you could have a poster that you would recommend them to practice to that they can take a quick photo, that doesn't use paper, and then they will be able to find music. A lot of times when we are starting off in a genre as dancers we don't know who to look for. You might also create a blog post, or social media post about the music you use in your classes and in your workshops, so students can check back and that also connects them with your courses.

7. Make Sure You Use Music in Class

For this next tip, it’s pretty straight forward, just make sure if you can, USE music within your classes. Certainly, there are some technique classes where you may use less music within the class. But a lot of times when students go to a dance class, they are really craving that connection with music, that's what they want. Many times, when we plan a dance class the majority of the time is we are working on a technique or working on something without music involved and that can at times, sometimes that’s appropriate, but at times it can leave a student wanting more. Saying "where is the music?" It's such an essential part of it, so make sure you give ample time to practice or work on techniques and steps with music in the class.

6. Work to Achieve Good Sound Quality

Another tip involves sound quality. Now this is something we don't always have control over as dance teachers. Maybe we are teaching in a studio where it's our first time and we have very little control over it. But for me as for someone who is a music lover it's always been important to at least try to attain a certain level of sound quality and also volume. Sometimes we can't have this. Sometimes we have to teach a class just using our laptop or we can't get something to work and we have to adapt, or we have to use small speakers. But if you can, take that time to try and figure out before what the space is like, what is the sound system like, what are the connections like, and work on that sound quality to the best of your ability. That is going to enhance your enjoyment of the class, and also your students. If they can hear the bass clearly, if they can hear the treble or the high end, if they can hear all these instruments, that really makes the class that much better. It's important. We know when social dancing that within a club or in a space dancing how important audio quality is to the experience. Being able to really hear the song, hear the words. That's important in a dance class too. That importance you place on the sound quality and on the music will also transfer to your students.

7. Nurture Your Own Love of Music

So, in addition, something that dance teachers need to do, in order for your dance students to connect to the music, you also need to give importance to it. I know that when we are planning and teaching, sometimes it feels like you have enough time to really nurture that love or that relationship you had with the music your teaching or dance, so I would really encourage you to take the time and just listen, put it on some head phones or when you are driving. Be around the music when you are not working, so when you are not planning a performance, or a choreography, or when you are not planning a class. Just expose yourself and give yourself that gift of musical enjoyment as well because that will transfer as well to your students.

8. Continue To Learn

Continue to learn. So, if there are presentations, or if you have a chance to see musicians live, or see documentary films about the music. That is going to enhance, not only your connection, but you are then going to have this grouping of stories that you can then bring into your dance class. I love bringing in stories that I have with different musicians, whether its filming a documentary with Joan, or interviewing Luis Segura. I bring those experiences and stories into the class. I don't necessarily have it planned out or scripted, but as the song I'm using comes on it reminds me of a story, and I bring it up and share it with the students. You want to make it personal, and the more experience you have, and the more you can learn, the more you can bring that in.

Those are just a few tips that you might use to connect your students to the music more to give them a deeper connection to the music throughout your dance class. If you have ideas, or if you have techniques that you use in your class that you would like to share with us and recommend I would love to hear them in the comments below and we can continue this conversation.