7 Reasons Why Music Is an Effective “Visual Aid”

In the past two weeks, I’ve called your attention to the fact that great visual impact can be made by any presenter through the use of what I called Entertainment Media. I listed four different approaches, Comedy, Ventriloquism, Magic and Music. And there are others (for another day).

Music was covered pretty well in three videos of top speakers who use music perfectly as a “visual aid.”

Mike Rayburn and his guitar, David Pogue and his piano and singing, and Benjamin Zander with his piano. I could have shown you a dozen or more performers but these happen to be the very best.

My hope is that these videos will expand your thinking about how music may be able to fit into your public speaking career.

I have one last thing to share with you with regard to using music in your presentations: Why music is so powerful and leaves such a memorable impact on your listeners. Here are seven factors to remember.

1. The Event. This has to do with the setting where you experience any piece of music, whether in a car, at a concert event or in a auditorium listening to a public speaker.

Most speakers are not aware of it, but peoples’ learning is greatly effected by “where they hear something.” You can probably remember everything that happened at your prom.

Particularly, every song that was played.

2. Your Listening. When music is played, you listen. And you have thoughts. Memory experts tell us the music and the listening are remembered together, , , also anything else that might have happened in that setting.

The auditory modality makes a lasting impression on what is learn.

3. The Melody. The tune of a song makes it’s own impact. And if you like it, you won’t forget it.
Advertising people work diligently to create songs and jingles that attach themselves to our mind, , , and with the right strategy, any speaker can do the same thing with their audiences.

4. The Lyrics. The words of a song can equally, attach themselves to the minds of any audience.

And when these words can be one in the same as your primary message, you’re ahead of the game when it comes to impacting your audience.

5. The Rhythm. The beat. The drums. The foot tapping aspect of the music.

The beat of music vastly effects the mood and attitude on any audience. And you can greatly use this “effect” to gain a speaking advantages.

6. The Motion. Add to all of this, the idea of dance, movement and animation. This all makes the whole experience more memorable. Which is exactly what every presenter is looking for.

7. The Total Message. What you have here, after the six factors is a bottom line that all adds it all together. This “adds” up to a powerful learning experience.

And when it’s all said and done, , , consider Benjamin Zander presentation, , , and you have a finished message, , , a new and improved appreciation for classical music.

So, if you have any music ability at all, try to see how you can work it into your speaking. Your audiences will love you forever for it.

Wayne