Contextualization

So, have you ever stopped to think about what is the function of music? Why can music make us laugh, cry, dance, and so many other things that happen almost without us realizing it? To answer these questions, it is important to understand what music is and the role it plays in our lives.

Music is an art form that uses sound to express our ideas, feelings, and thoughts. It can be a way to tell a story, to convey a message, or to express an emotion. Music accompanies us in various stages of life, whether in moments of joy like birthdays and weddings, or in moments of sadness like funerals.

Furthermore, music plays an important role in the cultural formation of individuals. It can convey knowledge, traditions, and values of a community. Music can strengthen our identity, as it connects us with our roots and helps us understand who we are and where we come from.

Studying the function of music is a great journey that will take us through many different cultures and times. Understanding how music is used and understood in different contexts will help us gain a broader and more complete view of our world. And that's what we are going to explore together in this project!

To delve deeper into the topic, we recommend reading the book 'What is Music' by José Jorge de Carvalho and consulting the 'Sesc São Paulo' website where you will find several interesting articles on the subject. Both are excellent resources to understand the importance and functions of music in society.

Study Resources:

1. Carvalho, José Jorge de. What is Music. Brasiliense, 2002.
2. Sesc São Paulo. Music and Society: an inseparable relationship

Practical Activity

Activity Title: 'Our Own Soundtrack'

Project Objective:

In this activity, students will explore the function of music in different contexts. They will conduct research, create a representative playlist, and prepare a presentation to share their findings with the class.

Detailed Project Description:

Students will be divided into groups of 3 to 5 people. Together, they must choose a topic they wish to explore the function of music about. It can be a social theme, a music genre, a specific historical period, a particular country, or even an artistic movement.

Once the topic is defined, the groups should research how music expresses, influences, and is influenced by its context. They should pay attention to how music reflects the culture, politics, economy, aesthetics, and ethics of the chosen context.

Based on their research, students will create a playlist that represents their topic. Each song in the playlist must be carefully selected to illustrate a specific point that the group wants to highlight.

Finally, the groups will prepare a presentation to share their findings with the class. They should explain why they chose each song and the functions they perform in their context.

Required Materials:

• Internet access
• Presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.)
• Music platform (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)

Detailed Step-by-Step:

1. Divide students into groups of 3 to 5 people.
2. Each group will choose a topic for their research.
3. The groups will research the function of music in their chosen topic.
4. Based on their research, the groups will create a playlist.
5. The groups will prepare a presentation to share their findings.
6. The presentation must include an explanation for the function of each song in the playlist.
7. Finally, students will write a report on their experiences and findings during the project execution.

The total activity should last from two to four hours per participating student, with a one-week deadline for submission.

Project Submission:

At the end of the week, each group must submit:

1. The playlist.

2. The PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation.

3. A written report following the structure below:

   • Introduction: With a brief description of the chosen theme, its relevance and real-world application, the objective of this project, and the methodology used.
   • Development: Detailing the activity, presenting and discussing the results obtained, based on the studies conducted.
   • Conclusions: Summarizing the main points, expressing the learnings obtained, and the conclusions drawn from the project.
   • Bibliography: With all the research sources used by the group for the project.

The practical activity will be considered successful if students can understand and express the importance of music for the cultural formation of the individual and if they can critically analyze, through musical appreciation, the uses and functions of music in their production and circulation contexts. In addition, socio-emotional skills such as time management, communication, problem-solving, creative thinking, and proactivity will be considered in the project evaluation.