azraelswings said:
Hey all,
I'll be facilitating a little collaborative exercise pretty soon, wondering if anyone has any ways to generate ideas for a group of 3-4? Someone I knew once had 3 groups of index cards, one group had a place written on each, one had an action, I dont recall the 3rd, but the idea was that you would randomly select one of each and write a song about it, just for ideas' sake. Anyone have any good ideas?
Here is an idea off the top of my head. You might want to consider something like it.
1. Pick two (or more) standard song structures for the attendees to chose from (AABA, ABAB, for example). If they choose the AABA structure, they must put the title once in each verse (A section) on the same line of each verse. If they choose ABAB, they must repeat the title at least twice in the chorus (B section). If you (as the leader) choose some other structure or you don't like those instructions, develop your own; but restrict the writing process in some way that promotes good writing and requires the writer to focus on the structure of the lyric. Discuss the structures chosen to insure that everyone knows what kind of information goes in each section.
2. Draw cards or pick straws to determine seating around the table.
3. Give everyone paper and pencil. Have each person choose a general topic for a song and write it on their paper (street violence, new girl friend, lonliness, etc).
4. Each person gives their paper to the person on their right.
5. Each person then writes ten possible song titles from the topic in front of them. The titles must work as part of a lyric - no titles like "The Violence Story" or "The Lost Girlfriend Song." Restrict the number of syllables and words for the title (example: no one word titles, must have from 3 to 10 syllables in the title)
6. Each person gives their paper to the person on their right.
7. Each person chooses one title from the page in front of them, one of the structures from step 1, and writes a paragraph for each A section and B section (etc.) using plain and simple English to describe what goes in that section.
8. Each person gives their paper to the person on their right.
9. Each person writes a lyric based on the structure, title, and paragraphs on the paper in front of them.
10. Each person gives their paper to the person on their right and then reads the lyric in front of them to the group.
Pick short but reasonable time limits for each step. After all the lyrics are read, pick some of the songs and debate the choice of title and structure (should a different one have been chosen for that song?), debate the quality of the plain Engish paragraphs, and the quality of the lyric. Have the group pick a favorite and do a group rewrite of that lyric.
