A listening log is a written record of what students are thinking and feeling while they listen to music. The music for these listening logs is chosen by the teacher. Each week a different genre (style) of music is selected. By the end of the 9 week class, students would have been exposed to everything from the Blues to Old School Hip Hop.

I am a firm believer in exposing students to the best music in every genre. This helps students to expand their musical taste beyond the familiar and to reflect on the similarities and differences between music of various genres and time periods. By doing so, students might hopefully discover how one style of music, or one era of music, has been influenced by another.

I encourage parents and students to listen to the songs together. Parents can be a great source of help (especially with identifying musical instruments). But Parents can also help students make the importance connections between the music of one style, country, or era, and that of another. Imagine how impactful such a discovery can be! Imagine the conversations that students and parents can have about what makes music good or bad?

The benefits of this assignment are endless! I hope that students take this experience seriously and really grow creatively as a result.

-Mr. Southall