“Music can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable” Leonard Bernstein, American conductor
1. OUR EMB EXPERIENCE
Organizing a song festival in Helsinki, Finland in May 2015 was a motivating activity. Students had to write lyrics and music for their own song with an anti-bullying message, or choose a typical song of their country with positive meaning on human relations to sing, or put new lyrics to an existing song. The activities which took place in our schools before the short-term training session were versatile, imaginative and engaging.
2. THE ROLE OF SONGS AND MUSIC
When teachers implement song writing with a specific theme in their lessons, they easily manage to make their students realize what they have in common. In the case of bullying or school violence, the message is clear: Although we are different, the promotion of tolerance is a common aim. Students are or can be really open minded and interested in seeking ways to offer solutions and the help of the universal language of music is incomparable.
3. SKILLS ACQUISITION
Music literacy, English language improvement, sound recording and video clip making were all skills acquired or enhanced. It has been especially useful for the students, who noticed that teamwork and promoting the same message can lead to the desired results.
4. OVERALL BENEFIT
There is a lot to say when discussion comes to “songs in classes”. A very distinctive element is that of fun. Language teachers can enrich their lesson because students are often willing and benefit a lot from lyrics writing and presenting them in innovative ways. Small booklets with student’ illustrations which may circulate in school, reiterating in class, guessing activities of the kind “Who wrote What”, improvised singing in unison, and festivals can be very entertaining ways to deal with important issues of school routine.
5. WHEN AND WHY
The EMB anti-bullying songs CD can be used:
In the music lesson in cooperation with the English teacher. The lyrics are handed out and worked on by the English teachers and then sung in the music lesson.
In preparation of a school celebration
In preparation of an anti-bullying festival
As inspirational material for new lyrics and music writing
To introduce fun element in class
To help introvert people express their feelings
As “therapy intervals” in the case of a class with communication, bonding or bullying issues
As a motive, so that students search for songs related to the topic in their own country/language
In any occasion involving a bullying incident with the purpose of sensitizing a class, with some preparation by the class teacher (cooperation with the English teacher recommended)
