Brief summary of activity
This activity will offer learners some tips about introducing music to the listeners, independently of the style and their own personal taste.
Aim of the activity
To understand the importance of research and being open minded about music styles.
Expected Outcomes
At the end of the activity, learners will
- Be aware of the need to be open minded about music and dealing with an artist or a music piece.
- Acquired some tips on how to do music research and where to get information from
- Know how to introduce new music and to do so independently of personal taste.
Infrastructure, setting, resources
Playback equipment.
Length
90 to 120 minutes
How the activity should take place
Every participant contributes a CD.
The collection is given by the trainers to other participants who are asked to write a short presentation about the music. They can praise or criticise the music but they always have to tell why. Additionally the review should contain some information about the artist or the style.
Recommended max. number of participants and trainees to trainers ratio
5 to 10
Variations
• It is possible to leave the research for information apart. Then it is more an exercise in describing and reviewing, focused on pure musical issues.
• Trainers can choose the music before the activity for themselves.
• Recording the reviews.
• If the number of participants is small they can guess what review belongs to what music.
Tips for Trainers
Best case is if the music varies a lot: some speed metal and a classic CD meeting a folk collection and an electro album … Trainers should focus on the description of music. Avoid absolutes. Participants should described why the like or dislike the music, in any case. This can be done by following the advice in the handout Developing rules for feedback.
Requirements for participants
This activity needs no special knowledge or skills.It is for beginners and for advanced participants.
Beginners need more time to write. An introduction in Scripting for Radio should be given before.
Participants with less knowledge of the majority language probably might have some difficulties in discussing the music and reviews. The activity can be used as a search for multilingual ways of radio.
Analysis and evaluation
After listening to the reviews a further discussion could focus on questions like: Is it possible to understand a different opinion? What makes it easy to follow someones review? Which descriptions were useful for imagine the unknown music? Which were too far away?
Scheduling
The activity is working with various focuses and in different time spans.
It could be a playful and short start for discussing feedback rules. It can be also taken as a full workshop unit on scripting for radio / speaking / producing.
It is useful to combine the activity with an activity on PLANNING A PROGRAMME or ACOUSTIC DESIGN (or even: how to produce a feature)