Lesson 2: Learning “Beauty and Magic”

Aim: How are music and lyrics combined to convey emotion? 
Summary: Students learn “Beauty and Magic,” explore the differences between two versions of the song and analyze the meaning of the lyrics. 
Materials: Music Explorers online audio
Standards: GA: ESGMK-2.CR.2, ESGMK-2.CR.3, ESGMK-2.PR.1, ESGMK-2.RE.1, ESGMK-2.RE.2, ESGMK-2.RE.3, ESGMK-2.CN.1, ESGMK-2.CN.2
SC: MGK-2.1, MGK-2.3, MGK-2.6, MGK-2.7, MGK-2.8, MGK-2.9
Vocabulary: composer, emotion, lyrics
See Glossary →

Sing “Beauty and Magic”
  • Listen to “Beauty and Magic” (Version 1), Track 07. Watch Anders sing “Beauty and Magic” below and discuss composing the song.
  • Anders not only sings country songs by other musicians – he also a composer. A composer is someone who writes music.

Track 07 – Beauty and Magic (Version 1)

  • Learn to sing the verse. In each verse, the music stays the same but the words change to tell the message of Anders’ song. 

Why Anders Wrote This Song

I wrote this piece in the summer of 2020, when the pandemic was going on and it seemed like everything was going wrong. The whole world seemed to be on fire. I wrote this song to remind myself that there are always good and beautiful things if you look for them. I really believe that’s true.

“Beauty and Magic”

There is beauty and magic in this world
There is beauty and magic in this world
There’s a song in the wind everybody gon’ sing
There is beauty and magic in this world

There’s a place for everybody here
There’s a place for everybody here
For the weak and the strong, for the righteous and the wrong
There’s a place for everybody here

(Brothers and sisters!)

There is tenderness and kindness in this world
There is tenderness and kindness in this world
If you seek you will find, in your heart and mine
There is tenderness and kindness in this world

(Repeat first verse)

Explore and Write Original Lyrics to “Beauty and Magic” 
  • Read the lyrics to “Beauty and Magic” aloud to your students and have them reflect on the meaning.
  • Lyrics are the words to a song
  • What is the overall emotion or feeling in the lyrics to this song? 
  • What kind of world is Anders describing? 
  • Anders uses many word pairs that are the same or opposite to describe the world, can you think of some other word pairs that could go in this song? 
  • Using SG19, add some word pairs to create new lyrics to “Beauty and Magic.” 
  • Sing the new lyrics with Anders, Track 08. This can be done as a class or individually. 

Track 08 – Beauty and Magic (Instrumental)

Compare and Contrast Two Versions of “Beauty and Magic”
  • Anders recorded two different versions of his song “Beauty and Magic.” The music is different in each recording but the message celebrating all the beauty in the world is the same. 
  • Listen again to “Beauty and Magic” (Version 1), Track 07.
  • What is the emotion expressed by the music? How does it make you feel? What about the music makes you feel that way? 
  • How might you move to this music? Show us! 

Track 07 – Beauty and Magic (Version 1)

  • Listen to “Beauty and Magic” (Version 2), Track 09.
  • What is the emotion expressed by the music? How does it make you feel? What about the music makes you feel that way? 
  • How would you move to this version? 

Track 09 – Beauty and Magic (Version 2)

  • Compare and contrast the two versions. Some areas to explore include melody, lyrics, dynamics (how loud or soft the music is), instrumentation, tempo, and steady beat.
  • What is the same in the two versions? 
  • What is different between the two versions? 
  • How do these differences give the same words a different mood? 
  • Tell a classmate which version you prefer and why. Share ideas with the class. 

Creative Extension: Movement – Line Dance 

It is difficult to pinpoint where line dancing originated because it shares ideas and influences from man different dance traditions. These include folk dance, social dance, square dance, disco, and hip hop, just to name a few. They accompany many different genres of music as well. Line dances are sometimes associated with specific songs, but often are interchanged. They encourage group participation. Many of the dances have been paired with country music songs.

  • What are some line dances that you know or have seen before? Where did you see them? How did you learn them?
  • Can you teach the class, or a partner, some line dance steps?
Dance to “Beauty and Magic”
  • Teach your students a line dance called “The Cowboy Boogie.”
  • Pair it with “Beauty and Magic” (Version 2), Track 09.

Track 09 – Beauty and Magic (Version 2)

  • Have students stand in a front-facing line. 
  • Use the video below to learn the steps to “The Cowboy Boogie”:
  1. Grapevine to the R (one time) 
  2. Grapevine to the L (one time) 
  3. Hitch step starting on R foot (one step each foot) 
  4. Step backwards three steps end with a hitch 
  5. Boogie (shake hips) forward and back twice 
  6. Step Hitch quarter turn 
  7. Start over in the new direction 
  • Modify to accommodate students by choosing only one step to try or taking out the direction change. 
  • Invite students to create their own line dance steps. 
  • Listen to the full band version of “Beauty and Magic” (Version 2), Track 09, adding line dance steps. 

Track 09 – Beauty and Magic (Version 2)

Literacy Extension: Coat of Many Colors

Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors tells the story of how scraps of fabric became beautiful and magical. 

Musical Word Wall

Add the words composer, emotion, and lyrics to the Musical Word Wall.
See Glossary →

PDF Downloads

SG19 – Write Your Own Lyrics ↓ Download File

Audio Tracks

Track 07 – Beauty and Magic (Version 1)

Track 08 – Beauty and Magic (Instrumental)

Track 09 – Beauty and Magic (Version 2)


Unit 3: Salsa with Gino →