DAY 1 CLASS ACTIVITY
Class Activity
Description:
For this activity , we will listen to 2 different version of 3 songs. The First version is the original record / released version. The second is a cover version from NPRs tiny desk concerts. Many things have changed in regard to genre/style/instrumental ETC.
We will compare them based on the criteria above - of course we could use a much wider range of criteria, but for simplicity we will use the 3 shown above.
Instructions:
For each example, decide which side of the scale you think it lands on
For this activity , we will listen to 2 different version of 3 songs. The First version is the original record / released version. The second is a cover version from NPRs tiny desk concerts. Many things have changed in regard to genre/style/instrumental ETC.
We will compare them based on the criteria above - of course we could use a much wider range of criteria, but for simplicity we will use the 3 shown above.
Instructions:
For each example, decide which side of the scale you think it lands on
| T Pain Worksheet |
Judging / Comparing Music
One of the most useful ways to examine different examples of music
is to examine their differences
is to examine their differences
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Example:
We are trying to discover something about someone's taste in music (i.e. why you like what you like'): If we listen to something they like, and immediately after play something they hate, The differences between those songs can give us some information about their musical preferences |
Think about it in terms of Food Preferences (or movies...books... etc):
Jon Loves Steak, but hates Baby Carrots. Think about the different characteristics these foods have: Steak: Cooked, Meaty, Salty, Crispy Carrot: Raw, cold, crunchy, tastes earth/dirt, Chances are good that I am probably going to like other foods that are cooked, meaty, salty, Crispy Chances are also good that I will DISLIKE things that are raw, cold, crunchy (broccoli) |
For Music
Let's say you hate Beethoven but love The Roots,
if we examine the
differences between those artists and their songs,
we can make some discoveries about
What type of thing you like to listen to
Let's say you hate Beethoven but love The Roots,
if we examine the
differences between those artists and their songs,
we can make some discoveries about
What type of thing you like to listen to
Judging / Comparing Music
Judge = Form an opinion or Conclusion
If we are going to judge or form an opinion, we need some Judgment Criteria
When Judging a song, it is really insufficient to simply say , "This is a good song" or " That song sucked" .....
What is it good for?
What is good about it?
The lyrics? The Instruments? The Singers Voice? The guitar solo? The drum groove?
What Specifically Sucked about the song?
It didn't keep you entertained? You couldn't understand the lyrics? There Were no lyrics?
AND..
It's totally possible that you enjoy certain parts of the song more than others...
Examples: Maybe a song has great guitar solo and great lyrics but the singer has a terrible voice (Neil Young)
Maybe a song has Funny lyrics, but the music is simple and there is no depth to the content (Weird Al / Tenacious D)
Maybe the Lyrics contain a message that you like but you hate the genre of the song (Country-pop)
If we are going to judge or form an opinion, we need some Judgment Criteria
When Judging a song, it is really insufficient to simply say , "This is a good song" or " That song sucked" .....
What is it good for?
What is good about it?
The lyrics? The Instruments? The Singers Voice? The guitar solo? The drum groove?
What Specifically Sucked about the song?
It didn't keep you entertained? You couldn't understand the lyrics? There Were no lyrics?
AND..
It's totally possible that you enjoy certain parts of the song more than others...
Examples: Maybe a song has great guitar solo and great lyrics but the singer has a terrible voice (Neil Young)
Maybe a song has Funny lyrics, but the music is simple and there is no depth to the content (Weird Al / Tenacious D)
Maybe the Lyrics contain a message that you like but you hate the genre of the song (Country-pop)
1. Artistic/Musical Skill:
This is a rating of how much musical Skill you think it took for the artist to create the song
This is a rating of how much musical Skill you think it took for the artist to create the song
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2. Social Value:
Is this song Socially Accepted? Is it generally accepted in a Social Setting?
Think of this: if this song were to come on at the party/bar/club/wedding etc. would people like it or hate it?
Is this song Socially Accepted? Is it generally accepted in a Social Setting?
Think of this: if this song were to come on at the party/bar/club/wedding etc. would people like it or hate it?
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3. Monetary Value
Simply put, How much money would this song make in the music industry. How many Copies would this song sell?
Simply put, How much money would this song make in the music industry. How many Copies would this song sell?
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Monetary Failure
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Judgment Criteria Homework
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Examples: Find examples of songs that you think fit to following Criteria. Give an explanation about why you think it fits (i.e. give proof for your opinion - if you think it has low social value tell why you think so, if you think it has high musical value tell what it musically impressive about it)
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1. High Social Value VS Low monetary value
2. Low Social Value VS High Monetary Value 3. High Musical Value VS High Monetary Value |