Assignment #5 June 21, 2009: Lesson Plan #2

Rationale:
I liked the section in the Autrand article that talked about analyzing rap music. I had not really considered how we know something is rap and what the similarities and differences are between genres of music. I touched a little bit on the different political agendas of hip hop versus country in a previous post, but how do I know something is hip hop or rap or country and what the differences are between these. Exploring the similarities and differences between genres and in addition exploring the popularity of these genres amongst different age groups may help to shed light on students as to what youth are, in a way, requesting as a whole. The book for the class discussed how music is both a product of what people want and the people are a product of music, but more so the first. Billboard’s top ten would be full of songs about getting along and working together to build homes for the homeless if this is what the majority of people wanted to hear. Therefore, this lesson is to find exactly what the differences are in genres of music and what may be so appealing about popular music above other less popular genres.

I would personally love to see some actual empirical support around this question to see what actually entices youth so to hip hop and other popular music. The Mahiri article discussed how the youth chose a Kirk Franklin song to end their presentation with due to its inspirational quality. Kirk Franklin, and the song “Lean on Me” referenced in the article in particular, was very popular when I was in middle school. Everyone knew his songs and we even sang many of them in our school choir, which had no religious affiliation at all. Everyone just loved his music. But why did we love his music? Did we love it because of the message or because of the beat of some songs like “Resolution” or the melody like “Lean on Me”? Or, did we simply like it because everyone else did? I would be interested in learning just what it is about popular music that makes it popular. How do we decide what we want? I think it is also important to provide students with questions that may not have any answers, or to questions that require further research.

Lesson Plan #2:
Unit: What Defines a Musical Genre?
Objectives:
· Provide students with the opportunity to apply critical thinking skills in terms of analyzing different types of sounds and messages in music.
· Assist students in gaining appreciation for and/or awareness of the differences in musical genres
· Build awareness around the influence that popular music has over our daily decisions regarding dress, attitude, interpersonal interactions, behaviors, etc…
· Enhance team building and collective learning

Assignment:
1. Form groups of 4-5 students
2. Choose your top three musical genres that your group would like to research and hand this list to the teacher (each group must choose a different genre. These genres will be assigned by the teacher considering the genres of interest that are handed in)
3. Once your genre has been given to your group, each group member should be assigned to research each of the following for their musical genre:
a. 2-3 influential characters or other musical genres to this genre and why
b. 2-3 prominent musical instruments and/or technological devices most prominent in your genre
c. 2-3 topics/messages most relevant to this genre
d. 2-3 area of controversy surrounding this topic
e. One song that best represent this genre
4. Compile this information in a power point presentation of 5-7 slides to present to the class.

Presentations:
· Each group will present their power point presentation to the whole class while the class takes notes.

Discussion:
· The following discussion questions will lead the class in discussion around these genres:

1. What are the similarities between these genres?
2. What are the differences between these genres?
3. What is appealing about these genres?
4. Why would youth like some genres and not others?
5. How do these different genres influence young people?
6. What are the take-home messages about the similarities and differences in these different styles of music and their influences on society?