Week 5 Music

Listen to the song, ‘We Are Family’ sung by Sister Sledge

Listen carefully. Perhaps close your eyes. Use your imagination as you enjoy the music.

You might see colours, words, pictures, or encounter lots of different feelings. Share some of this with each other after you have listened.

Play the music/song. Move to the music or sit down to listen with closed eyes. Perhaps give the children a piece of paper or their iPad/tablet to make notes, draw, write down any words that spring to their minds for discussion. They might create their own listening map - a visual representation of what they hear.

Appraise

● Does this song tell a story? Perhaps the words tell a story or perhaps the music creates a story in your imagination. What is that story?

● What can you hear? Drums, keyboards, synthesizer, electric guitar, strings, bass, drums, female vocals and backing vocals.

● What is the style of this music? This is a Disco song. The style indicators of Disco music are:

○ A strong drum and bass line (drums playing on the pulse and cymbals on the off-beats. The bassline, energetic and leaps around)

○ Quite a fast tempo with a steady dance groove

○ Energetic electric guitar lines

○ Lovely string and/or orchestral arrangements as part of the song ○ Beautiful male/female vocals - soul sounding

○ The lyrics are often about love and dancing

○ Disco first appeared in the 1970s in New York

○ Disco has its musical roots in Funk and Soul

○ There are lots of fantastic dances associated with Disco. See if you can find out what they are

● How does the music make you feel? Music brings many emotions along with it and often each person feels something different. Perhaps share with each other how the music makes you feel.

● Did you like the song? It doesn't matter if you like or don't like a song or a piece of music. Think about the reasons why you do or don't.

Fast Facts

Information about the song:

● ‘We Are Family’ is a song recorded by American vocal group Sister Sledge in 1979.

● It was written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards.

● Sister Sledge are an American musical vocal group from Philadelphia.

● The group formed in 1971, and consisted of four sisters all with the surname

Sledge!

● They represented strong family values and the sisters achieved international success at the height of the Disco era.