Overview

In this lesson, students will explore strategies to build music appreciation skills. Students begin by practicing close listening, noticing elements of a song including mood, tempo, and instrumentation. Students then consider how the historical context of a song might impact their understanding of it. Students also explore lyrics as a form of literature and analyze components of live performance. The lesson will culminate in a final exercise of using these skills to write a one-line music review in which they express appreciation for music that they initially did not enjoy. This lesson lays a foundation for students to have productive and respectful conversations about music this year.