Enhanced Version - Complimentary Instructional Content
In the realm of music education, Katie Argyle, an Australian music technology trainer and consultant, offers a unique and engaging lesson plan that invites students of various ages to explore the intricacies of cover versions of popular songs. This lesson, available through the Midnight Music Membership Community, an online hub for tech-focused professional development for music teachers, is designed to boost classroom outcomes, engage students, and inspire a lifelong love of music.
The central focus of the lesson is to compare and contrast two versions of the same song: the original and a cover version. This task provides an excellent opportunity for students to delve into the world of music, considering factors such as tempo, instruments and voices, mood/feel, style, texture, and other musical elements.
For younger children (elementary level), the lesson simplifies concepts by focusing on easily identifiable differences such as changes in tempo, instrumentation, or vocal style between the original and cover versions. Activities might include paired listening to two songs and a step-by-step walkthrough of lyrics to identify main ideas and themes.
As students progress through middle or high school, the analysis deepens, incorporating musical elements like arrangement, tone, harmony, and stylistic interpretation. Discussions about why artists might choose to alter aspects of a song in their cover version and how these choices affect the song's mood or message are also included.
For older or more advanced learners, the lesson delves into technical analysis such as chord structures, key changes, and production techniques by studying sound recordings in depth. Students might compare how different covers reflect artist identity or genre conventions, and engage in research activities on the legal and creative implications of covers.
To facilitate this lesson, the Midnight Music Membership Community offers step-by-step training, world-class online courses, and bite-sized learning through digital badges. The lesson provides examples of cover songs, which are saved in a Wakelet collection, and a free listening worksheet that can be downloaded. A set of questions for students to answer in a provided worksheet is also included.
Regardless of age and ability level, students can work individually, in groups, or as a class. The lesson is adaptable and can be used as a bellringer activity, mini lesson, or expanded into a broader unit of work on arranging and composing.
The popularity of cover versions of songs has soared in recent years, thanks to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok. This lesson provides an excellent opportunity for students to engage with this trend, while also developing their musical analysis skills and appreciation for the art of cover versions.
You can access the Midnight Music Membership Community at Midnight Music's website. The community aims to help teachers integrate technology into their music teaching without stress, making it an invaluable resource for music educators.
- Katie Argyle, an Australian music technology trainer, offers a lesson plan on cover versions of popular songs through the Midnight Music Membership Community.
- This lesson aims to boost classroom outcomes, engage students, and foster a lifelong love of music.
- The lesson focuses on comparing and contrasting two versions of the same song, considering factors such as tempo, instruments, and vocals.
- For younger children, the lesson focuses on easily identifiable differences in tempo, instrumentation, and vocal style.
- As students progress, the analysis deepens, incorporating musical elements like arrangement, tone, harmony, and stylistic interpretation.
- For more advanced learners, the lesson delves into technical analysis like chord structures, key changes, and production techniques.
- The Midnight Music Membership Community offers step-by-step training, online courses, and digital badges to facilitate this lesson.
- Student activities include paired listening, lyric analysis, discussions about artist choices, research activities on covers, and a provided worksheet.
- The Midnight Music Membership Community is an invaluable resource for music educators, helping them integrate technology into their teaching without stress.
