“Wait, you actually know what ‘Army of Darkness’ is?” my student asked.
“What a silly question, of course I know the 1992 Sam Raimi directed classic, it was a huge part of personality in college,” I thought to myself.
I had made a fleeting reference to the film ‘Army of Darkness’ in a meeting I was having with a student and he was floored that I knew about his favorite movie. While it isn’t exactly a film lost to the sea of time, it is a cult classic that likely won’t top the average college student’s favorite movie list. This spontaneous comment sparked a lively conversation about this student’s love of comedy, horror, and Bruce Campbell, all things that are near and dear to my heart, and it still stands as one of my favorite student interactions.
Upon starting my professional career in Residence Life, I did my due diligence to craft my professional persona. After some time working in the field and understanding the unique opportunity we have to connect with others, it dawned on me that my personal interests can intersect with my professional identity in impactful and interesting ways. My love of the ‘X-Files’, the ‘Evil Dead’ movies, and classic ‘Super Mario Bros.’ games, among so many other things, gives me unique ways to connect with students, and colleagues, and open pathways for deeper understanding. In my observation, of all the arts, hobbies, and pastimes, there is one that rises above the rest in terms of its ability to bring people together: music.
Music is one of life’s greatest gifts and one of the true constants in a life that is ever-changing. It presents you with an unparalleled way to express your emotions and understand the world in ways that words alone can never achieve. Sharing your love of music with others creates a dynamic bond and forges a mutual discovery of one another. In my quest to create harmony between my professional and personal life, music is the strongest bridge. It is a key tool in my Residence Life career, and something I think more professionals should utilize in their toolkit.
To that end, I would like to offer ways Residence Life professionals can use music in their own work. Here is a five-track playlist of different strategies to use music in your work:
Track #1: Ask those you are meeting with if a song is tied to a favorite memory.
For many, certain songs create a soundtrack to various memories in their lives. Like so many others, when certain songs play, I am transported right back to pivotal moments in my life when I was listening to those songs, often with vibrant detail and clarity. As you’re chatting with others, you can ask if there are particular songs associated with memories that they might feel comfortable sharing with you as a way to get to know them better.
Track #2: Play some music during your meetings.
When I meet with others in my office, I used to quickly turn off any background music, clearing away all distractions. What I now do instead is leave the music on. It creates a unique ambiance in the room and fills the space with an additional warm touch (just maybe be mindful of what you’re playing – think more earthy Nick Drake vibes as opposed to bombastic Metallica). It can even invite conversation about the music you’re playing. Alternatively, you can let whoever you are meeting with pick the music to help them feel more at home.
Track #3: Create a team playlist and ask everyone on the team to listen.
For every team I am a part of, I like to build a playlist with contributions from everyone. I like to play that playlist at different meetings and events, and in the past, I’ve asked everyone on the team to give the playlist a listen on their own time. It gives you a way to meet your team sonically and see the varying vibes the team will present. The more diversified music palette your team brings, the better!
Track #4: Ask others why they like the music that they do.
Making small talk often includes questions about “what have you been watching” or “what music are you listening to lately” as a means to puncture silence before diving into the true topic of your conversation. I would suggest you go deeper and build upon those questions. If a student or peer names an artist they are listening to, ask them why, or ask what about their music brings them joy. I myself am always interested if someone is more drawn into the instrumentation of a song or the lyrics. You can learn a lot about someone and why they gravitate towards that particular music.
Track #5: Music can be calming after intense moments.
The power of music goes beyond being a channel to connect with others. Residence Life professionals often navigate intense and difficult situations as they support students. In the aftermath of dealing with a crisis, it can be hard to come down and ground yourself. Music can be a wonderful aid in the calming process. When I served on-call and responded to crises across campus, I would quickly put on a song as I walked across campus to the incident, and then would do the same after the incident, to help process the intensity.
These principles can be applied to other art mediums (film, books, etc.), but there’s just an undeniable universal appeal of music that makes it such a tenacious connector. The next time you ask a student about their favorite music, or you reach for the mute button when a colleague stops by your office, I hope you will consider finding a way to engage that music in your conversation.
In the days of CDs, cassettes, and vinyl records, some sneaky artists would include hidden bonus tracks on their albums. The “hidden track” of this article is a Spotify playlist with five songs that have intertwined with my Residence Life work in some capacity. I won’t disclose their meanings, but the beauty of music is that you can easily associate your own meaning with each of these songs.
