Amazing Song Listening Activity

Instructions: As you listen to each song excerpt, use the questions below to help you think about what makes the song amazing. You can write your answers or just think about them!

Song Excerpt 1

1. Melody: Can you hum the main tune of this song? What does it sound like? (e.g., catchy, simple, complex)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Rhythm: Describe the beat. Does it make you want to tap your foot or dance? Is it fast or slow?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Lyrics/Story (if applicable): What story do the words tell, or what message do they send? If there are no words, what kind of story does the music tell?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Emotion: How does this song make you feel? (e.g., happy, sad, excited, calm, powerful)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Instruments/Sound: What instruments can you hear? Are there any voices? What do the different sounds add to the song?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Song Excerpt 2

1. Melody: Can you hum the main tune of this song? What does it sound like?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Rhythm: Describe the beat. Does it make you want to tap your foot or dance? Is it fast or slow?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Lyrics/Story (if applicable): What story do the words tell, or what message do they send? If there are no words, what kind of story does the music tell?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Emotion: How does this song make you feel?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Instruments/Sound: What instruments can you hear? Are there any voices? What do the different sounds add to the song?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Song Excerpt 3 (Optional)

1. Melody: Can you hum the main tune of this song? What does it sound like?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Rhythm: Describe the beat. Does it make you want to tap your foot or dance? Is it fast or slow?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Lyrics/Story (if applicable): What story do the words tell, or what message do they send? If there are no words, what kind of story does the music tell?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Emotion: How does this song make you feel?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Instruments/Sound: What instruments can you hear? Are there any voices? What do the different sounds add to the song?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

What Makes a Song Amazing? Script

Introduction: What's Your Jam? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Or good afternoon! Today, we're going to dive into something that's a huge part of many of our lives: music! I want to start by asking a simple question: What's your favorite song right now? And more importantly, why do you love it so much? What makes it 'good' or 'amazing' to you?"

(Allow students to share. Encourage a few different students to explain their reasoning. Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 1-2)

Teacher: "Those are some fantastic choices and great reasons! It's clear that music means a lot to us, and we all have different ideas about what makes a song special. Today, our mission is to become musical detectives. We're going to explore the key ingredients that make a song truly amazing. We'll learn to listen for different parts of music and understand how they work together to create something unforgettable."

Deconstructing Amazing Songs (10 minutes)

Teacher: "Just like a chef uses different ingredients to make a delicious meal, musicians use different elements to create an amazing song. Let's look at some of these key ingredients."

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 3)

Teacher: "First up: Melody. Can anyone tell me what they think a melody is?"

(Wait for responses, guide them to the definition)

Teacher: "That's right! The melody is the main tune of a song. It's the part you often remember and sing along to. Think about 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star' – that simple tune is a melody! Melodies can be high or low, fast or slow. It's the part that gets stuck in your head!"

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 4)

Teacher: "Next, we have Rhythm. What comes to mind when you hear the word rhythm?"

(Wait for responses)

Teacher: "Exactly! Rhythm is the beat that moves you! It's the pattern of sounds and silences in music. It gives a song its groove and feel. When you tap your foot or dance, you're responding to the rhythm. Some rhythms are bouncy and fast, others are slow and steady."

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 5)

Teacher: "Our third ingredient is Lyrics and Story. What do you think this refers to?"

(Wait for responses)

Teacher: "Yes, the lyrics are the words in a song. They tell a story, share feelings, or describe ideas. But even without words, music can tell a story through its sounds! Think about a movie soundtrack – the music alone can make you feel suspense or happiness, right?"

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 6)

Teacher: "Then there's Emotion. How do you think emotion plays a role in music?"

(Wait for responses)

Teacher: "Spot on! Emotion is how the song makes you or the singer feel. Music can be joyful, sad, exciting, calm, or powerful. It connects with our hearts and can change our mood! A happy song often has a fast tempo and bright sounds, while a sad song might be slower and in a minor key."

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 7)

Teacher: "Finally, we have Instruments and Sound. What do we mean by this ingredient?"

(Wait for responses)

Teacher: "You got it! This is about the instruments playing – like guitars, drums, piano, or even just voices! It's also about the unique sounds these instruments make and how all those sounds blend together. A song with a heavy drum beat will feel different from a song with a soft piano melody, right?"

Teacher: "So, we have Melody, Rhythm, Lyrics/Story, Emotion, and Instruments/Sound. These five ingredients work together to create the amazing songs we love!"

Amazing Song Listening Activity (10 minutes)

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 8)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to be the musical detectives! I'm going to play 2-3 short excerpts of different songs. As you listen to each one, I want you to try and identify the elements we just discussed. How would you describe the melody? What about the rhythm? What emotions do you feel? What instruments do you hear?"

"You can use your Amazing Song Listening Activity sheet to jot down your observations, or just think about them and be ready to share."

(Play Song Excerpt 1 (approx. 1-2 minutes). After the excerpt, pause for student thoughts/writing, then facilitate a brief discussion using the questions on the activity sheet.)

Teacher: "What did you notice about Song Excerpt 1? What stood out to you?"

(Repeat for Song Excerpt 2, and optionally for Song Excerpt 3 if time allows.)

Wrap-Up: Your Amazing Takeaway (5 minutes)

(Use What Makes a Song Amazing? Slide Deck - Slide 9)

Teacher: "Great listening and fantastic observations, everyone! We've thought a lot about what makes a song amazing today. So, to wrap up, I want each of you to think about this: What is one new thing you will listen for in music now that we've talked about these elements?"

(Allow a few students to share their takeaways.)

Teacher: "Wonderful! Remember, music is incredibly powerful and personal. There's no single 'right' answer to what makes a song amazing, but understanding its different parts helps us appreciate the art even more. Keep exploring music, keep listening actively, and keep finding those amazing songs that speak to you! Great job today!"

Amazing Song Cool Down

Instructions: Take a moment to reflect on today's lesson about what makes a song amazing.

1. One New Thing: What is one new thing you learned or will listen for in music from now on?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. My Amazing Element: Out of melody, rhythm, lyrics/story, emotion, and instruments/sound, which element do you think is most important for making a song amazing, and why?