TME Tuesday - Lyric Analysis Light

Lyric Analysis is not something I do with my clients very often. It doesn't seem to have much therapeutic benefit with many of my kids - they just don't seem to move from the concrete to the abstract, so I don't try very often. It is something that works with about 3 kids at any given time. (Those kids are never in the same classroom group, but now can be pulled out for a small group treatment situation, now that I have a clinic space!!!). So, I'm thinking about starting a lyric group - I need a catchy name for it...

Anyway.

Here is one of the lyric analysis lists that I've made over the years. This one is from 2006. The music is a bit dated, but I think many of these songs have messages that my kids could understand or have experienced. I've since developed this into a specific protocol/procedure to use with persons with developmental diagnoses as well as psychiatric concerns, and I'll send it to you personally, if you are interested. Just leave a comment or email me through my website if you want to see the procedure. Here is a first step into thinking about lyric analysis, especially with the types of clients I serve...

Lyric Analysis

Music Therapy Application

Mary Jane Landaker, MME, MT-BC

Purpose:  To assess receptive language; to assess expressive language; to assess comprehension of vocal language; to address emotional issues expressed in songs.

Source:  unknown – generic MT application.

Materials:  lyric sheets for each participant; CD player; CD; guitar; sheet music (if needed).

Songs:

1. Annie’s Song – John Denver
2. Blowin’ in the Wind – Joan Baez and others
3. Both Sides Now – Judy Collins
4. Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon and Garfunkel
5. California Dreamin’ – Mamas and the Papas
6. Country Roads – John Denver
7. Climb Ev’ry Mountain – Sound of Music Soundtrack
8. Day By Day – Godspell Soundtrack
9. Desperado –
10. Dona – folk song
11. Dreams – Camp Oakledge Song
12. Eagle and the Hawk – John Denver
13. Five Hundred Miles –
14. Friendship – Camp Oakledge Song
15. For Baby (For Bobby) – John Denver
16. Grandma’s Feather Bed – John Denver
17. Happiness Is – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Soundtrack
18. I’m Proud to Be Me – Camp Oakledge Song
19. I Know A Place – Girl Scout Camp Song
20. Jamaica Farewell – folk song
21. Leavin’ on a Jet Plane – John Denver/Mamas and the Papas
22. Let There Be Peace on Earth –
23. M.T.A. – Kingston Trio
24. Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys –
25. My Favorite Things – Sound of Music Soundtrack
26. One Tin Soldier –
27. Pass It On – Church Camp Song
28. Peace – Girl Scout Camp Song
29. Rocky Mountain High – John Denver
30. Scarlet Ribbons – folk song
31. Shenandoah – folk song
32. Snowbird – Helen Reddy/Anne Murray
33. Sound of Music – Sound of Music Soundtrack
34. They Call the Wind Maria – Paint Your Wagons Soundtrack
35. Today –
36. Tom Dooley – Kingston Trio
37. Tonight – West Side Story Soundtrack
38. Top of the World – The Carpenters
39. Twenty-six Miles –
40. Walk, Shepardess, Walk – folk song
41. Wedding Song –
42. Where Have All the Flowers Gone – Mamas and the Papas
43. Wouldn’t It Be Loverly – My Fair Lady Soundtrack

Procedure:

1. Produce lyric sheets for each group participant.
2. Pass out lyric sheets to each participant.
3. Start the CD or play the song, singing along.
4. Encourage participants to sing or read along with the music.
5. When the song is over, start asking the following questions as appropriate for the song.

·        What is the song about?

·        Who is singing?

·        How do you think they feel?

·        What is the most important part of the song for you?

·        What do you remember about the song?

·        If you could change words in the lyrics, which ones would you change.  What would you change them to?

·        How does the musical accompaniment support or distract from the words of the song?

·        Do you like the song?

·        Can you understand how the singer(s) feel or why he is singing the song?

6. Encourage clients to participate in the discussion through reinforcing any responses and opinions.
7. If clients do not appear to pay attention, invite them to sing along with the song a second time.

Adaptations/Extensions:

1. After completing the discussion element, move into a songwriting/piggybacking exercise using the melody and rhyme scheme of the song.  Shape the song into a reflection of the group.
2. If participants are unable to complete questions for the discussion, dissect the song into smaller portions, parsing each verse into smaller phrases.
3. If participants are unable to complete questions during the discussion, redirect them to the music and sing the song again.