Note to Teachers: The programs viewed in conjunction with these lesson plans may include references, consistent with the eras portrayed, to substance abuse, violent acts, and topics of a sexual and/or political nature. Because this may be considered inappropriate for classroom use in some communities, you are encouraged to review the programs before presenting them to your students, and if necessary, choose those sections that enhance your lesson and are acceptable for use in your classroom. VH1 (Inside) Out: Lisa Marie Presley VH1 Music Studio Cable in the Classroom Lesson for Music Classes, Grades 7-12 Lesson 1 Objectives: * Students will reflect on how being the child of a celebrity can effect one's life and career. * Students will discuss how personal choices in one's life can effect one's professional career. * Students will analyze the lyrics of Lisa Marie's song "Dirty Laundry" to determine the main theme and emotions expressed by the artist. * Students will compare and contrast two versions of the song "Dirty Laundry" in the context of each of these six elements of music: harmony, melody, rhythm, form, timbre, and expression. National Standards: 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture. Materials: * VHS VCR player * Television * Audio playback equipment * VHI's (Inside) Out: Lisa Marie Presley * Web-based lesson materials * Pens/pencils (students) * Copies of lyrics to "Dirty Laundry" (provided below) * Copies of the "Song Comparison Worksheet" (provided below) * Copies of the "Song Comparison Worksheet #2" (provided below) * Recordings "Dirty Laundry" (available from iTunes or CDs listed below) Prior Knowledge: * Students are able to identify different instruments within a listening example. * Students are familiar with the following musical terms: tempo, instrumentation, voice range, dynamics, rhythm, form, expression, harmony, melody, and timbre. Procedures: 1. At the beginning of class, students will participate in an introductory discussion about what it would be like to be a child of a celebrity. Use the following questions to lead the discussion: * What do you think it would be like to be the child of a celebrity? * How do you think it would effect one's social life? * How might it effect one's career - what if the wanted to go into music? What if they wanted to be a teacher or someone who is not necessarily in the limelight? * Give some examples of children/young adults today who are children of celebrities. 2. Introduce the VH1 special, (Inside) Out: Lisa Marie Presley, by sharing the VH1 biography (see below) with the class. (Note: You may choose to make copies of the biography for each student to read or choose a student volunteer to read it orally.) Explain that this video follows Presley as she prepares to release her new album Now What. Ask students the following questions: * What do you think might be the main focus of this video? * What do you imagine her music sounds like, knowing that her Dad is Elvis Presley? * According to her biography, has Presley had an easy or hard life? What do you think contributed to this? 3. Play the program VHI's (Inside) Out: Lisa Marie Presley in its entirety. 4. Distribute copies of the lyrics to "Dirty Laundry" (see below). Ask students to follow along as they listen to the song. Place the students into small groups and give them a list of questions to discuss after they have listened to the song. Possible discussion questions include: * What do you think this song is about? * What emotions are discussed in this song? * One of the questions asked on the video was, "Can she rise from her dirty laundry?" What do you think? * What style of music would you label this as? * How did this song make you feel? Why? * Do you think that being a child of a celebrity has influenced the general tone of this song as well as her entire musical career? * Does the music make you think of anyone or anything going on in your life or the life of those around you? 5. Inform students that in this video, Presley is trying to "find her own voice" yet her first single released from the album, "Dirty Laundry," was written by Don Henley. Different artists choose to do their own arrangement of another artist's song for many reasons. It seems evident in the video that Presley chose this song as her "theme song" as she tries to rise above her past and carve out her own path as a rock musician. 6. Students will listen to and analyze the two versions of "Dirty Laundry." Distribute the Song Comparison Worksheet (see below) and have students analyze both versions of the song, writing down similarities and differences in melody, harmony, rhythm, form, timbre, and expression. Play Don Henley's and Lisa Marie's versions of "Dirty Laundry." 7. Lead a class discussion about their analysis using the following questions: * What similarities did you find between the two songs? * What differences did you find between the two songs? * What instruments were predominantly used? * Did any instrument stand out to you? * How would you describe, in your own words, the musical style of each song? * Which song did you like more and why? 8. Distribute the Song Comparison Worksheet #2 (see below) and ask students to write a children's/folk song title on their paper. (Some examples include: "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "London Bridge," and "The Alphabet Song." Provide additional examples as needed.) Ask the students to imagine what they would do to alter the piece to create their own arrangement of the song - to put it in "their own voice." Have them write their ideas on the worksheet and share them orally with the class. Extensions: 1. Have the students perform their arrangements of their song with accompaniment or acapella for the class. Supplemental Resources: * Official Lisa Marie Presley website: www.lisapresley.com * Recordings: Now What (2005) by Lisa Marie Presley, Actual Miles: Henley's Greatest Hits (1995) by Don Henley National Standards for Music Education 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture. These standards-based materials are provided through a partnership with MENC: The National Association for Music Education. This lesson plan was created by MENC member Carolyn Stock, Music Educator, Chicago Public Schools and Harold Washington College, Chicago, IL. VH1 BIO - Lisa Marie Presley As the only child of rock & roll's first and most celebrated star, Lisa Marie Presley had to work extremely hard to establish herself, far away from her famous Father. It was a rough road, but Lisa Marie had the spark and rawness to do it, and to do it on her own terms. Born to Elvis and Priscilla Presley on February 1, 1968, Elvis's only daughter spent the first four years of her life at Graceland, where she was the apple of her father's eye. When her parents split in 1972, Lisa Marie left Nashville with her mother for the suburbs of Los Angeles, but regularly visited Elvis in Memphis. Music was undoubtedly a big part of her life; Elton John, David Cassidy and some of Elvis' softer songs were her favorites. Having music around allowed Lisa Marie an escape. The tension between the two households and the geographic distance was emotionally taxing for a young girl; such stress came to a head on August 16, 1977, when her father died after an apparent drug overdose. The decade that followed showed an aggressive young lady that lacked direction and discipline. Lisa Marie meddled in drugs during her teenage years, while listening to Devo and the Sex Pistols. At age 18, she left drugs behind and began following Scientology. She began writing songs, but the process proved nerve-racking. Aware of the pressures of being Elvis Presley's daughter, she didn't pursue a songwriting career, spending time instead beginning a family; she married her longtime boyfriend, Danny Keough, in 1988, and during the six-year marriage had two children. Soon after that marriage dissolved, she confirmed that she had tied the knot with Michael Jackson. After three years of media scrutiny, Presley grew exhausted and divorced Jackson in 1997. A chance meeting with producer Glen Ballard motivated Presley to give music another try. Ballard was impressed with her dark, luckless melodies and coordinated a deal with Capitol. Although her debut album was initially slated for a 2000 release, it didn't appear for another three years. In the meantime, Presley had begun another tumultuous relationship, with actor Nicolas Cage; the couple married in mid-2002 but split just three months later. Finally, in spring 2003, Capitol released her debut album, To Whom It May Concern. Deeply personal, edgy and furious, the record displayed a side of Lisa Marie that was both smart and brash. She wasn't interested in living up to her Father's legacy in the eyes of others because she was comfortable with her own. To Whom It May Concern sold 140,000 copies during its first week of release in April. It was also one of the year's highest debuts with its number five position on Billboard. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide Lyrics: Dirty Laundry I make my living off the evening news Just give me something-something I can use People love it when you lose, They love dirty laundry Well, I coulda been an actor, but I wound up here I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear Come and whisper in my ear Give us dirty laundry Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em all around We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blonde who Comes on at five She can tell you 'bout the plane crash with a gleam In her eye It's interesting when people die- Give us dirty laundry Can we film the operation? Is the head dead yet? You know, the boys in the newsroom got a Running bet Get the widow on the set! We need dirty laundry You don't really need to find out what's going on You don't really want to know just how far it's gone Just leave well enough alone Eat your dirty laundry Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're up Kick 'em when they're down Kick 'em when they're stiff Kick 'em all around Dirty little secrets Dirty little lies We got our dirty little fingers in everybody's pie We love to cut you down to size We love dirty laundry We can do the innuendo We can dance and sing When it's said and done we haven't told you a thing We all know that crap is king Give us dirty laundry Lyrics obtained from www.lisapresley.com Lesson 1 -- Song Comparison Worksheet Fill in the different elements of music you hear for each version of "Dirty Laundry." Elements of Music Don Henley Lisa Marie Presley Melody (big range, small range, leaps or steps) Harmony (on what instruments, use of back-up singers, is there a key change) Rhythm (what is the time signature, any changes in meter) Form (what is the overall form of the song) Timbre (instrumentation, which one is most prominent, what voice type) Expression (tempo, dynamics, articulation) Lesson 1 -- Song Comparison Worksheet #2 Elements of Music Folk Song: Your song: Melody (big range, small range, leaps or steps) Harmony (on what instruments, use of back-up singers, is there a key change) Rhythm (what is the time signature, any changes in meter) Form (what is the overall form of the song) Timbre (instrumentation, which one is most prominent, what voice type) Expression (tempo, dynamics, articulation)