Literature and Writing the Lyrics

Summary

In this lesson, students will learn how literature and music are combined to create a unified form of expression. They will explore song titles and learn how the lyrical content of the song is reflected in its title. Students will also interpret the existing song titles and think about how to express their own experience of a similar subject. Their main task will be writing lyrics to an existing melody and performing their new literary-musical creation.

_{The timing and pacing of the exercises in this lesson plan example are approximate and will differ depending on your students' skill level. If the pace of this lesson plan is too fast for you, divide it into several lessons. If the pace of this lesson plan is too slow for you, explore the 'Beyond the lesson' chapter at the end of this lesson plan for additional activities.}

⏰ Time: 45 min

🎓 Grades: 5-12

🎯 Objective(s): As a result of this lesson students will know and/or be able to...

• Write lyrics to an existing melody;
• Reflect on the connection between the title and the lyrics of a song;
• Recognize rhymes and catchy phrases in a song.

💡 Required Prior Knowledge and Skills:

• Basic rhythm.

💻 Materials:

• Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
• Projector or computer and access to WIFI

Song suggestions:

Inspiration

🕐 5 min - Titles

-Open the Solfeg.io Song library and invite students to have a look at the song titles.

-Each student chooses a song title they like the best.

• Try to pretend you don't know the songs and just pick the title that speaks to you!
• Now, imagine a story you would like to tell in a song with such a title!

What would you write about?

How would you put your own life experience into the lyrics?

Would your lyrics be similar to the lyrics of the original song?

Warm-Up

🕐 10 min - Exploring the existing lyrics

• Vote with the class and choose a song in the Song library. Keep in mind they will be writing lyrics to this song. Slower songs will probably work best (see Song Suggestions).
• Choose one specific part of the song (e.g. Verse, Chorus) and listen to it. While listening, ask your students to write down:

Some rhyming words from the song;

One catchy phrase from the song;

1-2 phrases that they really like in the song.

• Choose several students to read the lyrics they wrote down.
• Discuss with the students why they chose these parts of the song.

What, in your opinion, makes good lyrics?

Is the title of the song catchy?

Practice

🕐 15 min - Exercise 1 - Writing your own lyrics

• Now turn off the vocal track of the selected part of the song (you can do it with the Controls button on the right side of your screen) and play it to your students. Explain to the students they are going to try and write some of their own lyrics with the music!
• They should write lyrics with the original melody in mind. It should make the writing easier this way.
• Try and have them write at least one verse or chorus.
• Tips for writing:

Write about your day;

Write about how you feel;

Write about traveling somewhere;

Write about something that you really want.

‍

🕐 10 min - Exercise 2 - Performing your own lyrics

• At the end of class ask a few brave souls to present their new lyrics. Allow the students to speak or sing them along with the song.

Reflection

🕐 5 min - Discussion

• How are the lyrics you/your peers wrote different from the original lyrics?
• Having written the lyrics, would you give your song a different title than the original one? If yes, how would you call it? Explain!
• What would you prefer: writing lyrics to an existing melody or composing a melody to existing lyrics?

Beyond the Lesson

Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…

• Finishing the lyrics of the song you started during the lesson.
• Exploring the song library and writing lyrics to a different song.