Tiny Classroom Concerts: Give a Social Movement a Soundtrack
What’s Going on in this Picture?
WHAT:
Following a full day of classroom visits and songwriting around themes of social justice, peace, and environmental action, Balinese musician Gede Robi shared his music and inspired the students in collectively writing and performing an original song in the Future’s Public Radio tiny classroom studio.
WHY:
“Protest songs give a social movement a soundtrack. From a songwriting perspective, they help you connect with your society by engaging with what you want to change, whether it be the minds of the people who disagree with your ideals, or the complacency of those who agree with you, so you can energize them into action
It’s easy to feel like there’s more you could be doing right now. Besides marching, reading, and donating, using that anger to write a protest song is a way that musicians can play their part. And creating art during this time is an important role in all of this.” - Berklee Online
HOW:
With regards to literary, historical, and social justice elements:
Prior to Gede Robi’s visit students explored NPR and other resources about protest music and artists:
We Insist: A Century of Music Against State Violence
Bob Dylan: Songs the Changed the Course of History
Throughline: Billie Holiday and Strange Fruit
Be True
If you’re recording your protest song yourself, make sure you are in your truest voice when singing. Because protest songs must be a mirror of society, the vocal must reflect a level of sincerity and honesty that other types of songs don’t necessarily require. In his Vocal Production course, Prince Charles Alexander writes that people just want to be entertained, “but the records that stand the test of time—the vocal performances that we remember—do something else for the audience. They allow the listener to experience a truth that is often not easy for us to express or experience in daily life. This is an aspect of the record as a work of art.”
Think of the escalating intensity of Rage Against the Machine’s best songs, the measured anger of Killer Mike in “Reagan,” or the matter-of-fact confidence of Kendrick Lamar in “Alright.” This is because they are expressing issues that are close to their heart, and they express themselves with the same emotions that they would use to talk about such issues, but the music amplifies their passion and the sincerity of their performance puts their words on a level that mere speech cannot reach.
Be Direct in the Chorus
The chorus of your protest song should be something that you imagine throngs of people singing as they march. Jimmy Kachulis makes an astute observation about the function of the chorus in his Songwriting: Writing Hit Songs course:
The chorus is the part of the song that keeps coming back with the same lyrics and music, usually after each verse. This helps audience members remember it so they can sing along. Why is it called a “chorus?” Because the audience is supposed to sing along. They are the “chorus.” So, that’s your goal: to get your audience—usually not musicians—to sing along with your song’s chorus.
For protest songs, this is even more true. You need to write what you feel, but also tap into what many other people are feeling if they’re going to act as your chorus. If your song does achieve enough momentum to inspire the masses, then ideally they will sing your song at rallies and protests, which they will probably do without your recording. This means they’ll likely just sing the chorus, so make it count. Make it memorable, and make it direct. Listen to the Wailers’ “Get Up Stand Up.” The message is simple and direct: “Get up, stand up, stand up for your rights, get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight.” It’s easy to chant, and there is power in its simplicity. The revolution will be energized!
Read more on the process here
With regards to sound engineering, interviewing and production:
Learners deconstructed a variety of music journalism, as well as the missions of KEXP and Tiny Desk Concerts to learn and apply similar concepts in their design of the classroom live studio and their work in sound engineering, videography, and postproduction.
Asking “What might something like KEXP look like in our context?” can be a powerful launch into an Empathy to Impact learning experience:
KEXP's mission is to enrich your life by championing music and discovery.
KEXP is a nonprofit arts organization serving music lovers through in-person, broadcast and online programming. KEXP operates one of the most influential listener-supported radio stations in the world, 90.3 KEXP-FM Seattle, with online and on-air service reaching over 200,000 global listeners each week. On KEXP's YouTube channel , videos of exclusive live performances garner millions of views per week. In our home at Seattle Center, KEXP hosts community events and produces hundreds of live performances each year, many of which are open to the public at no charge.
Everything we do at KEXP is made possible through the support of individual donors, volunteers, business supporters, corporate and foundation gifts, and funding from the local, state and federal government. To make your personal, tax-deductible donation and join the more than 18,000 music lovers who power KEXP, please visit the Donate section. To join over 700 annual volunteers who donate their time and expertise to KEXP, visit the Volunteer page. KEXP-FM Seattle, is operated by Friends of KEXP, a 501(c)3 nonprofit arts organization. KEXP is an affiliate of the University of Washington.
KEXP’s unique services are designed to benefit three distinct groups: Music Lovers, Artists, and the Arts Community.
KEXP’s curatorial staff of 45 DJs, who are widely recognized as experts in their field, present the newest emerging popular artists alongside established bands. KEXP’s programming features both variety and specialty shows that brings you the emerging sounds and long-time favorites from the Pacific Northwest, the country, and throughout the world.
Artists championed by KEXP are not typically supported by traditional non-profit arts organizations or commercial media outlets. They are inventive, contemporary musicians creating new work in popular genres that include rock, hip hop, reggae, country, Latin, modern global and more. For a full list of programs, visit the Schedule section.
KEXP's vision is a growing community of music lovers worldwide who depend on KEXP to identify, showcase, and champion music that entertains and inspires them. By creating meaningful music experiences on air, online, and in person, KEXP harnesses the emotional power of art to strengthen our communities and serve the greater social good.
KEXP's Commitments to the Community:
We pursue our mission by relentlessly pursuing curatorial excellence in our programming, and remain relevant to music lovers of all ages by producing one-of-a-kind content and experiences that we’ll deliver by world-class distribution methods.
At KEXP...
All good music — spanning all eras, styles, and cultures – has an opportunity to be heard, seen, and experienced.
We offer creative programming that respects and inspires your mind, heart, and spirit.
We emphasize new music and emerging artists to yield a richer, more rewarding experience.
We uphold music of the Pacific Northwest, to enrich and strengthen our region.
Artistic integrity, creative freedom, and personal responsibility are essential values that inform all our programs and services.
We seek, nurture, and promote music experts from all cultures and communities to provide a deeper, richer experience.
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We exist to generate an impact, serve the public good, and make a difference in your life and in the lives of music lovers worldwide.