[HANASHIR:7560] Re: Music and Spirituality with Teens

[shirona <shirona...>]

Craig,  Kol Hakavod just for "going there"!

  Are you planning on introducing your students to the many forms of Jewish
music - Chazanut, Klezmer, Israeli, American popular, new and old - by
playing CD's in class, followed by a discussion - or by teaching songs and
prayers?  How are you planning on getting this tough age group personally
interested in this topic?  Merris Ruzo asked a very good question - is this
class an elective?

Perhaps I can help a little by sharing a new project I just started with a
6th grade elective called "Sharing Shirim". I know how important music is to
teenagers, (AND pre-teens...) but alas, it is anything but Jewish music.  I
came up with this idea to have a class in which the students take turns in
sharing the music they love, which we all know is not Jewish - but do it in
an organized, "scholarly" fashion.  They need to bring the lyrics, do a
presentation on the artist(s), and share with the class  why they love this
music and what it means to them.  Then we begin a discussion, and through
that we get to talk about music in general, lyrics, poetry, social values,
personal expression... etc.  The kids get an opportunity to be heard and
their music taken seriously, which paves the way for them to be open and
accepting of other forms of music - ultimately bridging this gap.  After
all - music is music...  The second half of the class is dedicated to Jewish
music - using the same format, only I am the one presenting!

It's a bit early to be sharing this project, but so-far-so good!

Good luck,

Shirona


----- Original Message -----
From: <GOOGLEMOP (at) aol(dot)com>
To: <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2000 1:40 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:7546] Music and Spirituality with Teens


> Shalom,
>
> I thought I would like to start a new stream of debate and dialogue with
this
> topic.  Soon I will be embarking on teaching a series of 9 classes to 8th
&
> 9th graders on the topic of Jewish music as a key to our soul.  Obviously
> this could be a multi-year class, but given the limited nature of time
(each
> class is about 45 minutes), I was curious to see how this list would
> prioritize topics for each week.  Thanks and I look forward to the
feedback.
>
> Peace and harmony,
>
> Craig Parks
> Director of Youth Programming
> Temple Solel, Encinitas CA
> Songwriter/musician/performer
>
>

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