Exploring Identity through Music

Lesson title: Exploring Identity through Music

Learning objectives:

• To explore the meaning of identity
• To examine whether or not musical lyrics impact identity
• To demonstrate how lyrics have transformed over time

Audience: 10-20 middle school youth

Environment: non formal learning, activity offered as part of a youth leadership program offered at a local community center

Materials:

• Musical lyrics from three different decades (70’s, 80’s, and 90’s) related to identity, self esteem, self concept
• Flip chart paper
• Markers
• CD player and accompanying CD’s

Methodology: Experiential Learning Model

Rationale:

All too often young people are unaware of the potential impact music lyrics can have on their identity, self concept, and self-esteem. Identity exploration is common among adolescents as they attempt to discover who they are and their place in the world. This is particularly true for bi-cultural youth, African-American, Latino, Asian females, etc. This if often attributed to the absence of media images (television, magazines, commercials) that look like and reflect them (Cross, 1991). Music is a form of popular culture that many young people buy into as contributors, consumers, or creators. With the array of new media venues available many young people are writing, singing, and producing lyrics/raps without fully exploring how they want to present themselves to the world. The purpose of this lesson is to provide a safe place for young people to explore the meaning of identity, identity exploration, musical lyrics, and potential relationships.

Methodology and Process:

DO

• Break youth into three teams—this can be done by passing around a bowl of M & M’s with only three colors represented. Each person takes one M & M and passes the bowl around until each young person has a color. Three teams are formed based on the M&M chosen.
• Each team is assigned a song to analyze using a predetermined worksheet. Items to include can be: name of song, decade it represents, what are the main messages, who is the intended audience, how does the song make you feel, what was going on in the “world” at the time the song was produced, what kind of action do you want to take after hearing this song

REFLECT

• Each team is to create a visual (pictures, patterns, or words) that summarizes the messages implied in the song and “present” it as a large group.

APPLY

• Ask youth to create an analogy filling in the following statement… Identity is like __________________.

• How might song lyrics/music impact our identity?

• What are other factors that contribute to our identities?