[etni] fw: Musical English Day Report
- From: "Ask" <ask@xxxxxxxx>
- To: <etni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 08:29:15 +0200
From: laurie@xxxxxxxx
Subject: Musical English Day Report
Hi all,
Yesterday we had our 4th Annual "Musical" English
Day at The High School for Environmental Studies at
Midreshet Ben Gurion. The topic of this year's program
was "Protest Songs".
Our guest performers were Marianne Navon and Shaun
Deakin from our local "southern" folk music community.
Together, in advance, we planned the day and discussed the
songs they would sing and present to the pupils. Let me make
it clear that a LOT of preparation goes into such an event.
Last week I worked with all of the classes in the school
(grades 9-12), together with the rest of the English staff,
to talk about protest music and to introduce and teach the
pupils a few of the songs they would hear. This means printing
out lyrics, finding recordings and actually singing with them.
The pupils were given the songsheets to those same songs as
they came into the auditorium so they'd be able to follow and
sing-along, when appropriate.
Marianne and Shaun took us on a historical journey through the
development of protest songs, focusing mainly on America but
looking further at the musical roots of the songs. Here's a few of the
songs presented in this workshop: Go Down Moses, Sixteen Tons
(mining/unions) , The Times They Are A-Changin' , Deportee
(migrant/illegal workers), and Fixin' to Die (Vietnam).
I also got up and sang Mothers, Daughters, Wives which touches
both on anti-war and the changing role of women.
Getting up on stage I had a good vantage point to see the pupils
and enjoy their participation. I'm saying this in order to emphasize
that the teachers, in one way or the other, have to be active
participants in the program. This doesn't necessarily mean to sing
on stage; it could be to say a few words, read a poem, etc. I'd
planned on having 3 of my pupils open the program performing a
protest song, but unfortunately that fell through. It's another way
of getting them involved and interested. Next year.
Last but certainly not least, we worked VERY hard, in advance
and at the actual workshop, to instill in the pupils an understanding
of "appropriate behavior". We explained that what might be
acceptable at a concert in Yarkon Park is not acceptable in a
school concert/workshop. Learning a language, we told them, goes
far beyond vocabulary lists and grammar; it means appreciating the
culture of the language and that also means respecting performers
who might not appreciate "Israeli" behavior. (I'm not saying that to
offend anyone.. please understand what I'm referring to. The kids did!)
I'll be glad to help you all organize a similar event.
For anyone interested, you can also contact Marianne and Shaun at
08-6808967
Laurie Ornstein
laurie@xxxxxxxx
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