Lesson 2: Learning “Somewhere”

Sing “Somewhere”

• Warm up your students’ voices and bodies using the warm-ups in the Introduction lessons
• Listen to “Somewhere” ( Track 17).
  
• Sing along with the chorus ( Track 18).
  
• Invite students to describe what they hear in the music (e.g., a female voice, slow, soft then loud).
• Explain that “Somewhere” comes from a musical called West Side Story. West Side Story is about two groups called the Jets and the Sharks who do not get along. Tony, who is in the Jets, falls in love with Maria, whose family is in the Sharks.
• Listen again and encourage students to sing along.

Explore Emotions Through Music

• In musical theatre the people in the story are called characters. When J.J. sings “Somewhere,” she is playing a character.
• Listen to “Somewhere.” Ask students to describe the emotions the character might be feeling when she sings this song.
  • Another word for feelings is emotions.
• Brainstorm a list of the ways music can make us feel. Discuss the list with students.
• Using SG20, ask students to color each face and cut it out. Attach to popsicle sticks (optional). Ask students to create their own faces or movements to go with “scared,” “happy,” “angry,” “sad,”“surprised,” and “silly.”
• Play music of your own choosing that exhibits these emotions and ask students to hold up the face that matched how they feel when they hear the music. Any style of music can be used!
• Additional movement activity: students can use scarves as manipulatives to move to the music and respond expressively by acting out their emotions.

Writing about Emotions

• Using SG21, select music of your choice for a student written response.
• Ask the students to listen to the music and write at least five words for the way the music made them feel. Depending on the grade level, students can write a sentence or a paragraph using their words.
• Musical Explorers will have a chance to write about emotions and music and share it with Melody! If your writing is chosen, your class will be picked as VIP Musical Explorers and get the chance to meet the performers at the Musical Explorers concert! Please send your writing samples to SMF Education at 200 East Saint Julian St, Suite 601, Savannah, GA 31401 or education@savannahmusicfestival.org.

Musical Word Wall

Add the words character and emotion to the Musical Word Wall.

PDF Downloads

SG20 ↓ Download File

SG21 ↓ Download File

Musical Explorers Audio Tracks