Songs can be written from the curriculum, everyday life and – of course – flights of fancy and make believe. The class is involved in writing the songs right from the initial concept. A typical workshop would proceed as follows; collecting topics and ideas: the class suggests various topics that the’d like to write about. Selecting topics: we collectively edit the topics/ideas to a manageable number. Group work: if time permits, the class splits into groups, each group takes several topics and comes back with an action or descriptive phrases about the topic. Otherwise we do it as a class. Framing the song (lyrics): the class starts putting the lyrical song structure together using the “phrases” they came up with. Framing the song (genre): we discuss what kind of song it is: rap, rock, R & B, country… and adjust our lyrical, rhythmical and melodic structures accordingly. Presto – instant song! We did it!
| Grade Suitability | All |
| Maximum Class Size | Class size |
| Time Required | 1-11/2 hr |
| Language of Instruction | English |
| Communities | All |
| Availability | October to January, mid-April to June |