Okay, everyone, I really need some help. I have been asked to give a 45 minute presentation/discussion on
I LOVE this topic and have found so many good talks and articles, learned some new things, etc. But here’s my problem . . . .
Ages 16-18 to be more exact.
Oh. Yes.
Remember, I have teenage girls. They think differently than boys. How do I teach boys? Any ideas at all on how to make this interesting for them? What kinds of questions would you ask to get them involved in the discussion? I firmly believe that if a teacher asks the right questions the students will answer, than ask more questions that others can answer, and pretty soon the students are teaching themselves while the teacher just has to guide the discussion along a little bit.
I can hope, can’t I?
A little more background on the presentation:
- It will be given at a boys camp put on by our stake (church unit), called Camp Helaman. There will be about 20 young men there. (That’s an estimate)
- It is mid-week when they have already been out camping, and hiking, and having other physical and spiritual building activities.
- It is scheduled for 6:15pm, at the end of the day when they are tired and probably don’t want to listen to some pregnant lady preach to them.
- BUT, one or more of them suggested my name to teach this class so it can’t be all that bad, right? Right? (if I found out who you are you are SO in trouble! Like you will never, ever date my daughters trouble!☺)
- A year or two ago there was a stake fireside about music where the speaker played different types of music to show the moods and feelings music creates. I don’t really want to do that again. Though I will be prepared to do that later on in the discussion if need arises – like if there is no discussion going on.
- I don’t want to make this a presentation attacking any type of music genre as there are good and bad in each.
Hmm….I think that about covers it.
Oh wait. Here are the links to the articles I am drawing from:
Your Refined Heavenly Home by Elder Douglas Callister
A Closer Look at Popular Music by Lex de Azevedo
The Power and Protection of Worthy Music by Elder Russell M. Nelson
Worthy Music, Worthy Thoughts by Pres. Boyd K. Packer
Music and Dancing from For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet
Please, oh, please?
© 2007-2011 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved
2nd Manual for Leaders on the church website talks about how important it is that the beat is not more prominent than the melody. The Greeks knew this and outlawed it. Today, nearly all of the music has this characteristic. Also research the term “syncopation” and how it causes adrenaline to be released. The youth are addicted to the adrenaline release, not the music itself.
Read the stories about the mice:
http://www.schillerinstitute.org/programs/program_symp_2_7_98_tchor_.html
I suggest you purchase and listen to the entire program by Andrew Padewa.
http://www.excellenceinwriting.com/mus
Haha,
Anne beat me to it. I was going to suggest the very same resources. Great minds.
This can be a life altering topic for young men. Good be with you, as you present His message.
Do you have the book “WHY?”? It has a chapter called “Why does the music I listen to matter?” It is full of great things to think about that are in harmony with the gospel and directed at teenagers. If you’d like more info, email me.
you could also touch on the fact that even though they might not KNOW the words or ‘listen’ to them, they are still hearing them…and those verbal messages can influence them. (This is my soap-box for my dear husband’s music. LOL!)
Also, what do the artists stand for? Despite the boys realizing it, they are supporting the artists and THEIR beliefs, as well.
It’s not the end of the world if among friends, they stand for truth and righteousness and ask for the radio station to be changed, the song to be turned off, or make a reasonable request as such. Their friends may tease them, but ultimately, those boys will be looked up to for being a leader and doing what the rest of them wanted to but lacked the courage to do.
sorry for the novel. LOL!
Have fun!
I love you Ginger! ;o) (And miss you!)
I used to teach seminary and I know that boys can be quick to respond to questions and sometimes slow. If you don’t receive an answer just wait for a longer moment or two and perhaps they will.
Your reference list is awesome; so I know you will do great. You are a personality plus; so just go for it and enjoy the moments.
Having a son (12yrs.old) who loves music I will try to help. I would point out that music does NOT have to be “Church” music to help bring the spirit. This means not only MOTAB.
We have studied classical, Jazz, and even country music. All of them can at times stregthen our testimonies. They can help us see the world around us in a new way.
I know you don’t want to do the mood thing. It does get over done but I don’t see how you can do this without playing SOME kind of Music.
Maybe do it in a different way. What can this song teach us about GOD? DId you hear a gospel truth in this song?
I would even use some cheesy Article of faith songs if need be. To show that we learn through MUSIC.
Our spirit connects on a different level.
Have you heard of the book “Spiritual Lives of the Great Composers”? Its great, and could provide some insight or examples of the faith and spiritual beliefs of the world’s greatest musicians. I really like the chapeter about Handel and this quote is one of my favorites:
“Following the first London performance of Messiah, Lord Kinnoul congratulated Handel on the excellent “entertainment.” Handel replied, “My lord, I should be sorry if I only entertain them. I wish to make them better.” (p. 31)
Maybe it’s just the teen boys I’ve known, but it seems the more controversial you get, the better they pay attention. By controversial, I don’t mean arguing; I mean straight talking about the things others usually dance around and being incredibly frank. Boys really appreciate and value straight talk.
You said you don’t want to attack any specific genres and I admire that. If I were in your shoes I would use the platform to attack certain “artists” because I’m sick of hearing their popular trash at church functions. That’s just me though:)
Sounds like a really cool camp! Have fun preparing and participating!
Wow! Thanks for all the good ideas so far. Keep them coming!
I should clarify a bit by what I mean by not attacking specific genres. I don’t want to come right out and say don’t listen to this or don’t listen to that. I want them in the course of the discussion to start realizing and naming certain genres that would be good to stay away from period. Know what I mean? If I attack something some of them might be listening to at the beginning they will be put off and not want to listen to the rest of the presentation. Then we will get nowhere.
What comes to my mind is mission preparation. As you said, you don’t want to focus on the negatives, but to focus more on what will help them prepare to be better young men. Learning to feel the Spirit, and even more – learning to live in such a way that you can have the constant companionship of the Spirit, is one of the most vital things any young person should be learning. Young men need this skill to prepare them for their missions and to preside as priesthood leaders in their future homes. Music has a huge impact on this.
I have recently been surprised how much really good music there is out there. Good, contemporary, uplifting music that isn’t necessarily religious, is there if you seek for it.
Good luck! What a great topic! I look forward to reading what you prepare (hint, hint)!
I was at a presentation sort of the same idea and they started out with no one at the front and just some “high energy” music (part of the music to stay away from) everyone was messing around and talking, being loud, then they dimmed that music and put on something more inviting of the spirit and it was amazing how it started to get quieter and more reverent and still no one was in the front, it was an attention grabber for sure!!
First off, I have to recommend that you listen to this podcast interview of Alex Boye-
http://radio.lds.org/programs/why-i-believe-episode-9?lang=eng
-his story is so interesting and his choice of music really has made all the difference in his life.
And second, I just wanted to share a thought I’ve had for awhile. I’ve been a choir pianist in several different wards over the past ten years, and through those experiences and conversations I’ve had with people, I believe some people feel the Spirit the *strongest* through music. Kind of like that “Five Love Languages” book- people feel most loved in different ways, and I think we all feel the spirit stronger in different ways or situations.
I’m not sure if I’m making any sense but my point is, if music is one of our “spiritual love languages” we need to be aware of that and participate in worthy music as often as possible.
At least that’s what I think. 🙂
Good luck on your presentation!
I don’t really have any music suggestions, but I did teach Sunday School to that age group for a couple of years, and I loved it. Couple things I learned from that:
1. Be enthusiastic and confident. It’s infectious if you’re enjoying yourself. Which will work better if you will
2. Be prepared. Even over prepared. And the great thing about preparation is that the Spirit will guide you.
3. Talk to them like real people, and listen to them like real people. They will respect you for listening to them. For really hearing them. For trusting them to think for themselves.
4. Challenge them: don’t ask them to take your word for it. They already know what you think. Get them to find out what they think, and to hopefully want to pray about it. They need to see what’s in it for them to desire to listen to good music.
Good luck! If the youth are asking for you then you’ve probably already got some respect already. =]
Hey Montse –
I was thinking the boys might like to know more about the “scientific” effects of music…
I saw the most interesting water crystals study out of Japan – by a researcher named Masaru Emoto… Donna Nielsen shared it with me years ago – that shows the effect that different kinds of music had on freezing water.
I would like to imagine that the YM might think this is pretty cool. You could liken it to them in a meriad of ways…
There are several websites I found discussing it. Here’s one:
http://www.unitedearth.com.au/watercrystals.html
You could always google more.
Good Luck!
I love the Refined Heavenly Home Article. I agree with you saying you don’t want to attack a certain genre or something. The truth is–kids usually know when their music,dress,language,whatever isn’t quite what it should be. Kids still do it for many reasons–like fitting in–but sometimes its for a lack of knowledge about the alternatives.
I agree with Dana who suggested sharing multiple forms of uplifting music. We all know the feelings associated with inappropriate music–but I think it is important for kids to know that there is more to listen to than just the hymns. Dana listed a few good ones, and I have to add that my mother’s love for musical theater brought a lot of good music into our home. Broadway is progressing along the same lines as Hollywood in general these days–but there are still some gems of uplifting and even spiritually touching songs out there.
Check this link out:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/151194.Jack_R_Christianson
When I googled it, it was about ‘healing the wounded soul through music.’
I think it’s really important to impress that what we think shapes us into who we are, and music puts many thoughts into our head whether we realize it or not.
A thought too is to put one some music with a heavy beat {irreverent} and then have some one read some scriptures and ask some questions. Then do it again with some softer more reverent music playing in the background and see the difference.
I am also thinking about that Mormon-ad with the cockroach in the ice cream… “it’s all good except this one part”
Also use something like School House Rock…. once it’s in your head it’s there forever, even if you haven’t heard it in a while.
Maybe show that some of the hymns have been set to different, modern, music. And how even those bring different feelings. All good, but one you would sing for sacrament, while the same song set to different music doesn’t bring the same reverence.
Just my thoughts.
I would suggest, if you have time, to get the boys involved in a discussion.
Also, have you listened to a talk by Elder Gene R. Cook where he just “happens” to sit next to Mic Jagger on an airplane? Their conversation is VERRRRY interesting. The name of the tape is “13 lines of defense” or something like that. And, John Bytheway’s “Turn off the TV and get a life” talks about all kinds of media. I wish you lived close, I’d let you borrow them!
These are both excellent talk tapes that I wish more people knew about.
I think it’s important to talk about how different music makes them feel and that it’s ok to be in tune with their feelings. (ie this music only brings up bad thoughts and feelings, maybe I should turn it off) Music is slowly ripping our youth from our wards and stakes
Here’s a link to a transcript of the Gene R. Cook talk that Coombs Family mentioned:
http://emp.byui.edu/marrottr/Cook_Chastity-Jagger.pdf
Sorry I have no ideas, but I know you’ll do great!!! I’d be pretty intimidated with an assignment like that. Lucky thing you are awesome!
I recently read this talk by Lex Azevedo that was published in the Ensign in 1985. You can google it, it’s called “A Closer Look at Popular Music.” It’s really good.