Robinson has changed significantly since the end of last school year. With the implementation of stricter phone policies, removal of the “Brain Break,” and harsher grading policies, it seems as if the administration is becoming stricter and stricter. However, one modification seems to be different from all the other policies: the addition of music to the last two minutes of transition times. Trialed on August 20th, Robinson had its first taste of hallway music with the song “Raining Tacos,” but will this hallway music remain? What are the causes behind this addition- and is this for the better or for the worse?
The Story Behind the Hallway Music
According to School Based Technology Specialist (SBTS) Nathan Poumade, hallway music was implemented because “It was something that Principal Phillips decided that she wanted to bring back.” He also added that “She liked the idea of an auditory cue for students to know that they only have a certain amount of time left in the hallways, and then they need to get to class- but in kind of a fun way that you’re kind of listening to music, you get to hear different things that either students suggest or the teachers suggest, or that the administration curates, or a combination of those, it’s just kind of a way to help students, A: kind of lighten the mood a little bit and have a little bit of fun as well as being a little nudge that, ‘hey, you need to get to class.’”
Back in the 2019-2020 school year, hallway music was also being played. However, when asked about its removal, Poumade said, “Well, I think part of it was COVID and all the things that were going on there, I think it was just too much for the administration at the time to try to deal with and teachers to deal with and students and I think they had so many other things on their plate that I think music just kind of fell off. It was something that I mentioned numerous times and never really kind of went anywhere, so I kind of just left it alone. So yes, I just think there is a lot of other variables and I think now that we’re kind of back to quote on quote ‘normal school,’ it was something that Principal Phillips came back and said ‘I really want to bring this back and I want to do this again’ and so we made it happen.”
What does Robinson think?
Senior Kyle Chen said, “I actually like it because it gives you a pretty good sense of like when you’re supposed to get to class on time because before, sometimes like when you look in your phone to see the time and sometimes the bell would like sneak up on me and it would ring before I get to class. So, with the music, I know that I have to rush to class.” Poumade said, “I will say in the times that I’ve been out in the hallway, I do notice that students, when they hear the music, they realize that they need to hurry up and so they’re kind of moving a little bit more purposefully through the hallways to get to their class, so I do think it at least for now, this is seems to be having a little bit of an effect on them trying to get to class.”
However, the music can be ineffective for some. Senior Matthew Williamson said, “It really hasn’t helped me. I’m pretty decent at being on time. I feel like the students who are not going to be on time anyways aren’t really going to care much about the music. At most, it’s going to be sort of ineffective at getting students to class- the bells are more effective because the students instinctively know that the bells mean to get class; the music is that kind of just building up the ‘oh, classes starting in a few minutes.’ Most of the students in all of my classes are already there by the time the music starts playing anyways.”
Robinson also has mixed opinions on the music choices. Chen said, “They [music choices] could be better. They could probably have something like a Google form or something where people can put in a music request and then the admin could look through it and make sure they’re appropriate and stuff- they probably make a list [of music] like that.” However, Williamson said, “I don’t mind. I feel like it’s kind of fun.”
So how exactly does the administration choose what songs to play? Poumade said, “Currently it’s just music that was originally curated in the 2019-2020 school year from teachers, administrators and myself, and then I’ve added a few songs here or there that administration has kind of said, ‘hey, it would be good if you had this song’ or ‘I think that song would be great.’ Eventually, we’ll probably put out a Google form for teachers to make suggestions and then probably periodically maybe put out a Google form for students to make suggestions as well to kind of make some new songs, add some new life to the playlist so it’s not just the same stuff over and over and over again.”
While Robinson’s hallway music may have mixed reviews, for some, hallway music is something to look forward to every period. Poumade said, “I just really enjoy the bell music being there. I kind of look forward to it at the end of each period. For me personally, being the one that kind of sets up the playlist, just what song is going to be played- it’s kind of like roulette. It’s like, ‘which one is it going to be’ and then listening to it and enjoying it. So, I just think it’s fun- it adds a little lightheartedness to the day and kind of makes it a little bit more fun, so I really enjoy having the bell music available.”
Although it’s been given mixed reviews from students, it seems as if Robinson’s hallway music is here to stay. While its effectiveness and its choices in music are debatable, its presence seems to be harmless and can even add fun to the sometimes stressful school day. In the near future, when music suggestions open to students and teachers alike, perhaps hallway music can improve to fit the music taste of its listeners. Hallway music overall seems to be a positive addition, and perhaps a welcome comeback to the lives of students and teachers in Robinson.