DECONSTRUCTING+YOUR+FAVORITE+SONG

MUSICAL This group task requires students to actively listen (no talking) to their favourite songs and note down- Instrumentation- drums, bass, gazoo, voices, harmony Genre- reggae, pop, country, bluegrass Song structure- Intro, verse, chorus, bridge Melody- any strong melodic phrases that stick in the memory- hooks Rhythm/Tempo- fast slow, 4/4, waltz 3/3 Mood- does it make you-happy, sad, angry, excited, relaxed

LYRICAL This group task requires students to actively listen to their favourite songs lyrical composition. Get students to note down 2 or 3 lines from the song that stand out or resonate for them. As you go around the group collecting lines you soon get a picture of the theme and writing style. Discuss- How the lyric fits the rhythmic and melodic phrases. Does the chorus emphasize the theme of the song. Does it use a rhyming pattern Do the musical and lyrical ingredients emphasize the theme. Is it emotive.

EXERCISING THE SONG WRITING MUSCLE- Making up a lyric that fits a melodic and rhythmic phrase is one of the major tasks of the song writer. To create a theme or story that relates to the mood of the rhythm and melody is the art.

Get the students to think of a verse or a few lines of a song they are familiar with and make up there own lyrics that fit the melodic and rhythmical phrasing of that song.

Ie Yesterday all my troubles seem so far away- now it seems as though there here to stay- oh I believe in yesterday.

Ham n Eggs all I want for breaky s ham n eggs- but Ill be content with toast n jam- oh I just want ham n eggs. BACK TO MUSIC HOMEPAGE