RE-WRITING AMERICA

Materials: Video recording technologies (computer, phone, tablet).

Objectives:

• Students will explore patriotic American song texts

• Students will learn basic rules of text setting

• Students will create new lyrics for patriotic, American songs.

• Students will perform and record their updated patriotic song.

Procedure:

1. Give students several popular patriotic song texts (suggestions include: The Star Spangled Banner, My Country Tis of Thee, Party in the USA) In small groups ask them to identify common themes or phrases.

2. Introduce the basics of text setting including emphasized syllables falling on strong beats (1,3), as well as using meter to emphasize important words within a sentence (consider the difference between “How kind of you to let me come” “How kind of you to let me come” and “How kind of you to let me come”

3. Ask students to rewrite/update lyrics to the patriotic song of their choosing. Use the rubric below for the following song-writing parameters

   • Change 10+ words or phrases

   • Set your text appropriately according to our guidelines, including important syllable and word emphasis.

   • Record yourself singing your updated anthem/patriotic song.