Song Lesson

In January, I will sing a song to my English class. Additionally, I will analyze the song's relation to a piece of literature read in the past few months of school. I'm choosing to sing the song "Laughing With" by Regina Spektor; the book I will be comparing it to is "Reason for Hope" by Jane Goodall, which was my "outside reading book". 

I chose this song because I have been listening to it frequently for the past few years, and I have never gotten tired of it. I love the melody and Regina's voice is absolutely amazing. This song also brings back many memories of beach volleyball camp during the summers of middle school. When it clicked in my brain that the lyrics related very much to the thematic concepts of "Reason for Hope", I became a teeny bit more excited to sing. I found "Reason for Hope" to be a very intriguing book. Although I couldn't directly relate to Goodall, it was definitely an interesting perspective. 

I'm planning to teach the class with a Powerpoint presentation. I know it's not the most creative method, but I have been doing presentations for a while and that's what I feel most comfortable with. I'll have slides analyzing the lyrics of the song as well as some explaining the literary elements of the book. I'll also have some comparing and contrasting both the song and the book. I will possibly do a mini "quiz" at the end of the powerpoint, and I might bring candy as prizes!

I'm honestly not as nervous for the singing as I am with the analysis of the book and song. I already know I'm horrific at singing, so I have come to accept that I will be awful. I already know that I'll hit all the wrong notes, not sing to the rhythm, and sing in the wrong key. But it's okay with me because I understand that everyone has their own personal strengths...singing is just not mine. I'll just try to do my best and hopefully my peer graders will be nice! :)