One simple way to use music is to place it in the background to complement your lesson. This idea -- that music can actually stimulate active learning and focus -- is now referred to as "The Mozart Effect." It was discovered in 1993 by psychologists, who deduced that spatial-temporal reasoning increased by playing Mozart or other classical music. You can apply this technique in any lesson to improve attention, focus and ability in the subject.
Using pop songs to examine lyrical content can introduce students to poetry and get them excited about how poetry works on various levels. Relating to your group is important here, as is using the types of songs that they want to listen to. Ask your students to bring in a CD of the song that they would like to talk about and use this as a springboard for talking about songs and poetry.
A great way to invigorate a geography, history or session about culture is to include the kind of music that relates to the places or people you are talking about. If you are talking about Tibetan history, then use Tibetan music or if you are talking about China, use Chinese music. Every culture has its own take on music, which can create a fertile class atmosphere where students who may never be exposed to various cultures can experience the music.
Make music a part of regular class lesson, either through instruments or just with voices or repeated sounds. Students are more likely to remember something through rhyming and sound that can be recalled and tapped out later. Making sounds and music can be a very powerful learning tool that you can use in all sorts of classroom situations. If you are teaching math, for example, find a way to make a formula into a music by giving it a beat and repeating it.