Favorite Elvis song

[Fredwina]

or more to the point , what are you hoping to teach them? That could help narrow the list

[Veronica]

This assignment is really going to be about exposing them to something they may not have an awareness of.

It would not surprise me if 20 of them have never heard an Elvis song and if ten of them said, "Elvis, who?"

I'm also using these writing assignments to expose them to Beethoven and Mozart.

Veronica

[Crankin]

Veronica, your posts are making me miss teaching!
The part of teaching I really loved.

[PamNY]

I'm also using these writing assignments to expose them to Beethoven and Mozart.

Which Beethoven and Mozart are you using?

Mussorgsky might be nice for them, or something like the Ravel concerto for left hand (can't remember #). Years ago, Leonard Bernstein did "Young People's Concerts" and The Great Gate of Kiev was so much fun.

I'm sure there are better examples which I ought to remember but can't right now.

[Veronica]

I haven't picked the Mozart yet. But I'm going to use Beethoven's 5th. The part from Fantasia. I haven't decided if I'm going to show them the Fantasia bit or not. Kind of depends on the kind of class I have.

Yes, I'm doing all this planning for students I don't even have yet.

Veronica

[malkin]

What grade are they in?

[malkin]

I saw 10 in the paper vs. plastic thread...

Teach them some skills for choosing a topic--The song I like might not be one that I could say anything about; I'd have an easier time writing aboout 'Good Luck Charm' because I could say something about sexism in the 1950s or 'Viva Las Vegas' because I could write about advertising and gambling and organized crime.

[Veronica]

I'll be teaching a 4th/5th combo this year.


Veronica

[Fredwina]

I would say that would probably rule out "a little less conversation" as it was mainly the post-humus remix that was a hit, unless you want to use both versions to make it more accessible original(you tube) remix(youtube)
Then you also run into whether you want "rockabilly" Elvis , "Hollywood" Elvis, or "Vegas(fat)" Elvis. I like rockabilly Elvis, myself, By YMMV