Music-Impact-Network

Big Ears

Help participants develop their ear and the critical listening skills that are nearly impossible to notate

Critical listening skills like tone, intonation, and groove are universal and highly sought after by all musicians. These skills are also often overlooked or taken for granted in favor of traditional music education skills like music theory and reading skills. Help your participants become well rounded musicians by developing their ear, overall critical listening skills in their playing or music productions. Below are a few ideas on how to help your participants accurately identify and communicate music elements and use them in their own playing or songwriting.  

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How to… 

Be creative in how you communicate musical skills in instrument workshops, ensembles and/or music productions.  

Some ideas for Big Ears workshops include (but not limited to): 

Music Theory:

  • Find the Note: Play a note on piano and have other instrumentalists match the pitch on their instrument
  • Intervals: Give starting notes and find second note based on reference of sound. Limit options to Major, Minor 3rd, etc.
  • Identify Chords: Determine whether chords in root position are minor or major. Move chords around but don’t invert. Make it easy at first and build from there.
  • Transcribe: Figure out a guitar line/chords by ear.

Music Production/Engineering:

  • Listen as a Producer: Describe instrumentation and explain arrangement. How many hooks? Any interludes? Etc.
  • Mixing: Working through a mix and talking through the different instruments and how we handle certain frequency ranges
  • Physics of Sound: How does sound travel? What are frequencies, how are they measured, and what are the frequency ranges instruments play in?

Songwriting:

  • Rhyme Schemes: What type of rhyme schemes is the artist using? Slant rhymes, or perfect rhymes?
  • Lyrical Imagery: Is the artist using metaphor, simile, alliteration? What does it make you feel or visualize? 
  • Performance: What type of emotion is the artist using on the track? How does it support the lyrics? 
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Podcast

Encourage “youth voice” while reinforcing planning, communication, and basic production

Podcasts are popular and easier than ever to create – anyone can do it.  Help your participants start their own Podcast to discuss music, social/community issues, or whatever else they want to discuss.  Participants will learn the audio production process along with how to respectfully engage in a group discussion.  

In addition… 

  • Great way to introduce participants to recording/production best practices
  • Participants also learn life skills like planning, thinking, and communication
  • Participants can express their thoughts/opinions about relevant topics (in a safe environment) 
  • Participants can use a Podcast as a platform to showcase their music projects and ideas

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How to… 

  • Set up your studio or a dedicated Podcast station (Computer/DAW, microphone/s and a quiet room)
  • Staff can act as moderator/host (to help steer the conversation) or assign a participant to host 
  • Assign participant roles like: host, guests, expert, engineer, performer, music director, note taker, etc.
  • Choose topic (music, bands, projects, current events, family/friends, video games, fashion, etc.) 
  • Have participants research the topics and write 6­-10 questions relating to the topic.
  • As a group, write the introduction (listen to professional radio/podcast introductions for inspiration).
  • When ready, record an Introduction to the week’s topic.
  • With the host moderating the conversation, record the conversation about your chosen topic, passing the microphone from participant to participant (or set up enough mics for everyone).
  • Once the conversation is done, have the participants edit the audio, considering:
    • Remove silences
    • Remove inappropriate content or off topics comments 
    • Edit mistakes and mess-ups 
    • Add background audio, sound clips, and sound effects 
Note: The editing process is a good Youth Development opportunity. Staff can coach participants to develop planning, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills.
  • Post to the web: Soundcloud, YouTube or other social media 
Optional steps/ideas: Compose and record theme-song for the podcast and use it each weekUse a field recorder to capture sounds/clips from different environments/peopleGo Live! Host a weekly Live Discussion on social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, etc) 

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Musical Treasure Hunt – The Search for Emotions in Music

A fun, weekly contest in which each kid chooses a song that expresses the “emotion of the week”

The winner is the one who finds a song that best evokes the emotion of the week, as voted by their peers! The real treasure is helping kids understand how music can be a personal window into emotions and experiences.

In addition, participants:

  • Learn about the building blocks that make up a song
  • Hone their listening skills
  • Get to know each other better by articulating their ideas

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How to…

  • Every Monday, write down the emotion of the week and display it in the room (somewhere prominent). For example, “Fear”
  • Participants spend the rest of the week thinking about what song makes them feel “fear.”
    • You can also explore these themes in your songwriting workshops through the week.
  • Participants write down the artist and title of the song they think best represents the week’s emotion and bring it in on Friday.
  • As a group, listen to each entry, and discuss whether or not it evokes the emotion of the week.
  • Participants should consider:
    • Song form
    • Song key
    • Chord changes
    • Instrumentation
    • Lyrics
    • Production elements
  • At the end of the listening session, participants vote on a winner whose song best represents the emotion of the week.
  • The winner gets to choose the emotion for next week.

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The 10 Minute Bet

Ultimate way to get participants playing any instrument in 10 minutes (or less)

  • Designed to motivate and improve self-confidence when learning a new instrument
  • More of an “orientation” to teach participants the absolute basics to get playing right away
  • Works well with groups and with individuals
  • Works well with the Music & Youth Initiative “Equipment Orientation Worksheets”

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Question Mingle Icebreaker

An icebreaker where music is the common language

Have a large group of new participants that need to break the ice and get to know one another?  Question Mingle puts a musical twist on a classic icebreaker and uses your participants’ love of music as the common denominator to bring them together.  Print and cut the following questions onto strips of paper, put them in a hat, let participants follow the prompts and sit back and watch how music breaks down barriers! 

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How to… 

  • Print/cut questions into strips and put them in a hat. Use the examples below and/or think of your own!
  • Each participant chooses one question out of the basket.
  • Each participant finds a partner whom they’ve never met or haven’t talked to yet.
  • Both partners follow the discussion prompts on their papers.
  • Then all participants put their papers back into the basket, choose a new one, and find a new partner.
  • Continue this process until everyone has had a chance to talk to each other, or until time runs out!

Additional Resources (to print and cut into strips): 

  • Find someone who plays in more than one band/group. Ask questions to learn more about each band/group.
  • Find someone who plays the same instrument as you. Talk about your influences and when/how each of you got started.
  • Find a partner. Talk about the last live concert each of you attended. Where was it? Who did you see? How was the show?
  • Find a partner. Talk about your first musical influences.
  • Find a partner. Each of you name your top 3 favorite artists/songs right now and why you like them.
  • Find a partner. Talk about a music teacher who inspired you and why.
  • Find a partner. Ask about a recent time they (or their band) performed live. Find out where it was, what it was like, and how it went.
  • Find a person who will be performing later tonight. Ask them how they’re feeling about it.
  • Find someone who writes original songs. Ask how they get ideas and about their songwriting process.
  • Find a person who plays in a band/group. Ask them to tell you about one of their band’s/group’s songs. Find out how the song was written and what the lyrics are about.
  • Find a partner. Talk about your earliest memories of enjoying music.
  • Find a partner. Each of you name your top 3 musical artists of all time.
  • Find someone who plays in a band. Ask the story of how their band got together.
  • Find a partner. Find an artist/song on each other’s phones that you’ve never heard of. Swap and listen.
  • Find a partner. Each of you name your top 3 vocalists of all time.
  • Find a partner. Imagine you are planning a party together. You can invite any 10 musical artists, living or dead. Who would you invite?
  • Find a partner. Talk about a musical artist, living or dead, who you would most like to see in concert.
  • Find a partner. Talk about the instruments each of you play and how you got started.
  • Find someone who writes song lyrics. Ask them to tell you their favorite lyrics from a song they wrote and what the lyrics mean.
  • Find a partner. Talk about how often, when, and where each of you gets together to practice or play music with your band or other people.

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DIY Summer Activity Kit

Objective: Fun and unique “Do It Yourself” activities submitted by Music Impact Network members

    • Activities Include:
      • Naming Instruments
      • Guitar String Bracelets
      • Recycled Guit-ART
      • Drum Head Do-over
      • Embroidery Headphones
      • MintySynth
      • Musical Timeline
      • Drumstick Design
      • Make Your Own Cajon
      • Makey Makey Beats
      • Build Your Own Ukulele
      • Press Your Own Vinyl Record
      • Vibe Lighting
  • Materials needed to run these activities can range from no cost to about $100

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Tackling Social Issues in the Music Industry

Use popular music trends to get your teen participants to tackle important social issues 

Music and art have always been a great way to inspire thinking and get conversations going.  Use the music your participants identify with to create discussions around issues that teens deal with every day and may have trouble addressing in a healthy way and safe environment.  These discussions can help participants analyze deeper meanings from music videos, lyrics, or imagery used by popular artists in the Music Industry. 

In addition, the hope is to achieve the following outcomes… 

  • Teens feel comfortable to open up about their own thoughts/experiences related to current social issues
  • “Normalize” sensitive subjects, making it OK to discuss honestly 
  • Set an example of adults/mentors discussing topics openly and constructively (especially if differing opinions are expressed) 
  • Participants use concepts or topics discussed in their own original lyrics 

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Note: Due to the mature nature of the topics/lyrics/media that may be viewed/discussed, this program is recommended for older teens. Also consider getting support from the community or additional staff members like a social worker, counselor, resource officer and/or nurse. 

How to… 

  • Carefully listen to the themes in popular music or what your teen participants are listening to 
  • Collect relevant music videos, song lyrics, album art, or social media posts from music industry leaders/artists that depict current social issues, including: 
    • Sexual Harassment/abuse 
    • Depression/suicide 
    • Race 
    • Drug abuse 
    • Violence/crime 
    • Poverty/inequality 
    • Etc.
  • With your teen participants, decide on the social issue topics that they would like to discuss each week 
  • Establish discussion ground rules with teen participants, including:
    • Speaking one at a time 
    • Be respectful of others’ views 
  • With teen participants, watch relevant music videos or listen to song lyrics and facilitate an open discussion 

Week 1: Example – Kesha 

  • First listen to an older Kesha song like “TiK-ToK” 
  • Without discussion, next watch “Praying”
  • Discuss and compare the contrasting themes in the two music videos, including:
    • Music video imagery and themes 
    • Lyrics 
    • Instrumentation, arrangement, and production choices 
    • Personal feelings/reactions to either video
    • General discussion about the social issue itself
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Portable Music Production Station

NOTE: Any featured products are based on the experience and opinions of Network members and Music & Youth. We do not receive any financial benefit from the vendors to promote their products. We just thought they were helpful and you might like ’em. 

To download a ZIP file Bundle – Click Here:
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– Equipment is 100% battery operated and mounted in lightweight cases 
– Help maintain social distancing – Can be set up anywhere (e.g. outside, gyms, etc)
– Easy to clean and sanitize – Durable hard surface equipment can be disinfected
– Approximately $1,000 for each, fully outfitted, Portable Music Production Station

Resources to help you set up your Portable Music Production Station

Portable Music Production Station Overview
A simple way to bring beat making to your participants
Portable Music Production Station – Recommended Equipment List & Set Up
We’ve researched and tested this list of hardware and software
Portable Music Production Station Recommended Settings
Device settings for participant safety while providing accessibility and flexibility
Recommended iPad Apps
A list of the best music making Apps for your after school music program

Basic projects for the Portable Music Production Station

Basic Music Production Process Using Garageband (IOS)
Step by step process for getting participants familiar with GarageBand
iPad “Demo” Using Garageband and Transfer to Logic
Produce a “demo” on an iPad and finish it in the Studio
iPad Music Production Projects using Apps
Use Apps to introduce participants to other types of Music Production projects
Tips for Instrument Workshops Using iPads
Best Apps for learning instruments (like guitar/bass, drums, piano or vocals)
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Establishing a University Partnership

Leverage your local universities’ resources to provide a more rewarding experience for your participants

There are many benefits to developing a partnership between your Music Program and a leading local university. The ultimate goal is to have the University “adopt” your Music Program, which can provide a wealth of benefits including:

  • Source of part-time staffing (paid and work-study)
  • Enhances credibility of your Music Program
  • Access to Music Department training programs, seminars, and special events
  • Relationships with Music Department professors to provide pedagogy guidance and support
  • Access to donated equipment including computers and musical instruments

This document will help you understand the challenges and best ways to approach establishing a University partnership.

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