Tuesday, February 28, 2017

More musical writing prompts

Musical Writing Prompts
Write a page of nonfiction! 

Why not write about a musical subject?


1.     What is your favorite instrument, why?

2.     If you could learn to play any instrument, which one would you choose and why?

3.     Who is your favorite singer?  Describe why you enjoy their music.

4.     Music and emotions run hand in hand.  Describe a time when music helped you get through a tough time.

5.     Music can be used to really get people excited and focus on a task.  Describe a time when you noticed that music was used this way.

6.     All right dancing kings and queens:  Describe your dancing style in a paragraph.

7.     Mozart was a child prodigy.  This means that when he was a child he had extraordinary talent and skills.  If you could be child prodigy, what skills would you like to have?   Why?

8.     Sometimes music reminds of events that have happened in our lives.  Describe a time when music reminded you a funny time in your life.

9.     Imagine that you are an amazing inventor.  You have just created a NEW woodwind instrument.  Describe what it looks like, how it is played and be sure to give your cool new instrument a name.  Don't forget that this is a WOODWIND instrument.

10. Imagine that you are an amazing inventor.  You have just created a NEW brass instrument.  Describe what it looks like, how it is played and be sure to give your cool new instrument a name.  Don't forget that this is a BRASS instrument.

11. Imagine that you are an amazing inventor.  You have just created a NEW string instrument.  Describe what it looks like, how it is played and be sure to give your cool new instrument a name.  Don't forget that this is a STRING instrument.

12. What kind of musical present would you like to receive?  Describe it and don't forget to tell me why!

13. Your parents have decided to take you to ANY concert that you would like to see next week.  Who would you like to see and why?

14. Your music teacher has decided to take two students to see a new musical on Broadway!  Write a letter asking to be one of the students she chooses. Be sure to use all the parts of a letter and don't forget to be convincing!  Lay on the charm!!!

15. Unfortunately, some schools are not as lucky as we are to have music classes that meet every week.  Some schools have lost music class all together! Think about the reasons that it is important to have music in our school.  Write a persuasive paragraph about this topic.

16. What great book do you think should be turned into a song?  Describe the kind of song it should be.  (happy, sad, rap music, country music, fast/slow, etc...)

17. You are an amazing inventor and you have been asked to create a musical instrument that can be used under the water!  Introduce your new instrument in a paragraph and then draw a sketch of what your  instrument might look like below it.

18. If you could audition for American  Idol, what song would you choose? Describe how your audition would  go.

19. Oh no!  You have the Rock and Roll Flu!  You can only speak in song titles!  Write a short play (with two or more characters) in which  your character only speaks in song titles.

20. Music gives us a voice for our patriotism.  What is your favorite patriotic song?   Why?

Monday, February 27, 2017

Music as Inspiration


Play that Song

Turn on music that you love. Listen carefully.

1. How does the song make you feel?

Tap into the emotions the song conjures up. Consider the mood that the song sets. With a focus on that feeling—joy, sadness, triumph, love, regret, whatever it is—write a piece that also conveys the same emotion.

2. What do the lyrics make you think about?

Sometimes the lyrics will tell a story; try to expand on that story by writing it in prose form. Or perhaps the song gives you a portrait of a character; use that description and fill in the blanks to create your own scene. Or finally, the lyrics may take you back to a time in your past; mine that memory for inspiration and write about your own experience.

3. What kind of story would use this song as a soundtrack?

Imagine the story you are about to write will be made into a movie (we can dream, right?) and this song will be on the soundtrack. Use the song to dream up a movie-worthy plot point or to envision a new setting or character.
What type of music inspires you? Is there a specific song that really moves you?

PRACTICE

Choose a song to use as your inspiration. Listen to it start-to-finish, while keeping the questions above in mind.
Write for fifteen minutes about whatever the song inspires you to imagine. (You might have to play the song a few times on repeat!)

Monday, February 13, 2017

Famous Person Rap/Biography

NEW PROJECT: Historical RAP
Pick a partner to work with.
Think about a famous historical character.  Do some research on the character. Fill out the biography handout. 
Create a rap song for that character.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIl1OIGzuDg



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0aX8Jy1tME

Alexander Hamilton Rap

[JEFFERSON]
And every day while slaves were being slaughtered and carted
Away across the waves, he struggled and kept his guard up

Inside, he was longing for something to be a part of
The brother was ready to beg, steal, borrow, or barter

[MADISON]
Then a hurricane came, and devastation reigned
Our man saw his future drip, dripping down the drain
Put a pencil to his temple, connected it to his brain
And he wrote his first refrain, a testament to his pain


[BURR]
Well, the word got around, they said, “This kid is insane, man”
Took up a collection just to send him to the mainland
“Get your education, don’t forget from whence you came, and

The world is gonna know your name. What’s your name, man?”

[HAMILTON]
Alexander Hamilton
My name is Alexander Hamilton
And there’s a million things I haven’t done
But just you wait, just you wait...


[ELIZA]
When he was ten his father split, full of it, debt-ridden
Two years later, see Alex and his mother bed-ridden
Half-dead sittin' in their own sick, the scent thick


[COMPANY]
And Alex got better but his mother went quick

[WASHINGTON]
Moved in with a cousin, the cousin committed suicide
Left him with nothin’ but ruined pride, something new inside
A voice saying

[WASHINGTON]
“You gotta fend for yourself.”
[COMPANY]
“Alex, you gotta fend for yourself.”
[BURR]
There would have been nothin’ left to do
For someone less astute
He woulda been dead or destitute
Without a cent of restitution
Started workin’, clerkin’ for
 his late mother’s landlord
Tradin’ sugar cane and rum and all the things he can’t afford
Scammin’ for every book he can get his hands on
Plannin’ for the future see him now as he stands on
The bow of a ship headed for a new land
In New York you can be a new man






[COMPANY]
Scammin’

Plannin’
Oooh...
[COMPANY]
In New York you can
Be a new man—
In New York you can
Be a new man—

[HAMILTON]
Just you wait!

Just you wait!
[WOMEN]
In New York—

[MEN]
New York—
[HAMILTON]
Just you wait!
[COMPANY]
Alexander Hamilton

We are waiting in the wings for you


You could never back down
You never learned to take your time!

Oh, Alexander Hamilton

When America sings for you
Will they know what you overcame?
Will they know you rewrote the game?
The world will never be the same, oh


[BURR]
The ship is in the harbor now
See if you can spot him


Another immigrant
Comin’ up from the bottom


His enemies destroyed his rep
America forgot him
[COMPANY]
Alexander Hamilton

Waiting in the wings for you


You never learned to take your time!

Oh, Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton…
America sings for you
Will they know what you overcame?
Will they know you rewrote the game?
The world will never be the same, oh



[MEN]
Just you wait

[COMPANY]
Just you wait

Alexander Hamilton!

Friday, February 3, 2017

Where I'm From--Assignment #4

AGENDA:
FOR EXTRA CREDIT:
http://www.creativewritingprompts.com/



1. Work on "Where I'm From" poems which we will turn into a movie next week using Moviemaker by adding images and music.

Look over Examples:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNs6r1TgNZE


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyQ16OeECvc

2. Show video of original poem:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdnHl_yW1dQ 

3. HANDOUT: Where I'm From template--Write your own "Where I'm From" poem in a Word or Google Doc using the model and the template