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(WT) The Beatitudes ~ Music Workshop

Rotation.org Writing Team

The Beatitudes

The "Beat-itudes" Music Workshop

beat-itudeslogo

Summary of Activities

Students will hear, see, sing, and keep a Beatitudes beat using various objects/sound effects to learn and "beat" along with scripture and The Beatitudes Song. They will answer the question, "Who's beat do you follow?" and "What's the beat that Jesus is laying down?"

Be sure to see the appended notes about the memory power of rhythm and music.

About The Beatitudes Song

We listened to a lot of Beatitudes "children's songs" in preparation for this lesson. Most are old-fashioned sounding and many quite cheesy. The Beatitudes Song by Matt Mason and Mandi Mapes is melodic, easy to sing, and importantly, sounds like something kids today would hear on the radio. The Beatitudes Song is in the style of "Hillsong," a popular Christian music ministry.  Importantly, the lyrics of the chosen song stay focused on the Beatitudes, and include some explanatory thoughts. The song also has a free lyrics download and sheet music for those wanting to play it on piano or guitar. (They are attached with permission to this lesson and also available online.)

The song also has a strong beat, which is how your students will accompany it using various objects, as they learn and remember its words.

Purchase the Beatitudes Song for 99 cents on iTunes.
Download the free lyrics sheet. Download the free sheet music for guitar/piano.

Here is a free YouTube preview of the song, with lyrics. To use the song (and video) in Sunday School, you need to spend the 99 cents to purchase the song!

Scripture for the Lesson

Matthew 5: 1-13*

This is the only lesson in this set which includes verses 13 and 14: you are the salt of the earth" and "you are the light of the world." This is because they are included in the song lyrics, and indeed, when we follow the Beatitudes, we are salt and light to the world!

Lesson Objectives

See the Bible Background at rotation.org for this set's complete list of objectives. 

Preparation and Materials

  • Read the Bible Background and scripture.
  • Purchase the Beatitudes Song for 99 cents on iTunes.
  • Download the free lyrics sheet and copy for each student.
  • Download the free sheet music for guitar/piano (if needed.)
  • Playback device for the downloaded song or video version of the song (see below.)
  • Borrow a metronome or see in lesson below other options (found under Practice - Learn How to Follow the Beat.)

    Note: As long as you have purchased the song, you can show the music video. We recommend showing the video with the song on YouTube because it has the lyrics displayed with it.

 Assemble various items of "rhythm" instruments, aka, "beat-makers"

  • Rhythm instruments or objects that make unique soundsrythym
  • Wooden blocks
  • Wooden spoons and pots
  • Drums or 5 gallon plastic bucket "drums"
  • Metal trashcan lids (a la "stomp")
  • Two plastic plates taped together with rock salt inside
  • etc

Tips: The older your students are, the "cooler" you should make your collection of rhythm instruments. Avoid "small child" toy instruments, for example. Note: Do not use "boomwhackers" or other tuned instruments. You want rhythm, not notes.


Lesson Plan

Overview:

  • In the Opening you will distribute instruments and introduce today's concepts.
  • In the Practice, you will practice creating a rhythm to the spoken words of the Beatitudes from Matthew 5, and then play "Follow the Jesus Beat."
  • In the Song, working together, your group will create and keep rhythm to the Beatitudes Song (twice). 

Open

Write the word "BEATitudes" in large letters on the board, highlighting in a different color/shape the word "BEAT" in it.  You may even use the graphic attached to this lesson.

Welcome students by letting them pick a "beat maker" instrument. They'll naturally want to try them out, and this will create a bit of cacophony –which is a point!  

Sitting on the floor in a circle with them, let each student introduce their "beat-maker" by making some noise with it. Point out that we're all different, and yet, we all have the love of Christ in common. He loves us no matter what "sound" we make.

Explain that today they are going to be working together to provide "the beat" to a song about the Beatitudes. Ask them if they know what the Beatitudes are, and briefly mention a few, noting that they are the list of eight "Blessed are," Happy are" statements that Jesus spoke and were recorded in Matthew 5.  Tell them that "Beatitudes" is an old word for "Blessings." (The song will get into more detail.)

Note that everyone pronounces this important word "Be-at-itudes" but that today, for the rest of the lesson, everyone must pronounce it as "BEAT-itudes."  Game Idea: You might even game that idea by telling them that every time someone pronounces it "Be-at-itudes" you are to "catch" their mistake by making some noise with your beat-maker. Then be sure to pronounce it "be-at-itudes" at least once to let them try and catch you!

Practice

1. Learn how to follow the beat

Practice "keeping the beats" with your beat-makers using a metronome. You can have students follow your beat, or use a metronome (mechanical or electronic). Metronomes can also be set on the web, such as, at http://webmetronome.com, or you can download a free metronome app to your smartphone.  

Practice different beat rates (slow and fast) and see how well your students can do keeping up with your beat.  Then set your metronome to 100 Beats Per Minute (which approximately matches the song) and keep that beat.  Older students can improvise with the sound and timing of their beat-makers, as long as they know they need to keep to the 100 BPM rate. (For example, they could shake every other beat, or double time. The key is to keep time with the beat.)

Say: By the way, who's the Leader of our Band?  Jesus!   We each have different instruments, different ways of contributing to the sound, but Jesus keeps the beat we try to match. (Now ask the question a second time, but this time "beating out" each word in time and inviting the children to try and follow you.)

Ask: What happens when you get lost or out of time? Does Jesus whack you?  (No! Jesus' spirit and words try to bring us back "in time" "in sync" with his plan for us.)

2. A Musical Bible Study: "Following Jesus' Beat"

Assign the eight Beatitudes to different readers (the teacher should take the first one). Have them find it in their open Bibles, which are in front of them as they sit in the circle holding their instruments. If you have non-readers, read for them. Remind everyone to speak their verse loudly so that the Beatitude can be heard above the beating!

Start a slow rhythmic beat and have everyone get in sync with you. Then read the first Beatitude IN TIME with the beat. Say your Beatitude twice with the beat.  (The words will sound like a rap of sorts if you do them in time with the beat.) 

With everyone keeping the same beat, cue the next reader to "read their Beatitude in time with the beat."  Some are harder than others. If they need to do it again, let them. Do this until all the Beatitudes have been "beat." 

Now repeat this Beat-itudes exercise a second time, only this time, speed up the beat. With older students, you may also invite them to add beats/sounds IN TIME with the beat. (This is where a metronome will continue to come in handy). You have now beat the Beatitudes twice.

3. Pause for some reflection on what the Beatitudes mean in an age-appropriate manner.  Here is a suggested Word Study you can adapt for your students.

Word Study:
"Beatus" is the Latin (Roman) word for "Blessing," and "Beatitudes" is how we say it in English. The Roman word "Beatus" can also be translated as "fullness" or "wealth," "happy," or "fortunate." And this is why we study what these old words mean: because when you substitute some of the other words that Beatus can mean in English, you suddenly realize Jesus was talking in a very creative way to get you to think new thoughts.  "Blessed are the poor in spirit," for example, can be read as "wealthy" are the poor in spirit. The poor in spirit are wealthy?!1  "Blessed are those who hunger for what is right," turns into "Full" are those who hunger. "Blessed are the persecuted," turns into "Happy are the persecuted."  The eight "beat-itudes" are a "new beat" —a very DIFFERENT BEAT that Jesus wants us to live by. He wants us to look at what it is that makes us happy in a very different way. He wants us to see it God's way.

Let's demonstrate this with "The Jesus Beat" Game:
Assign a student to lay down a simple, slow "Jesus' beat" ...and then have everyone try to "match Jesus' beat."  Tell Jesus to speed up, slow down, and change the beat. 

Point out that this is like "Follow the Leader" ...and this is exactly what Jesus wants us to do: follow his idea of REAL happiness, —hungering for what is right, realizing that being meek and humble makes us full and strong, and not weak. Jesus wants us to follow his Beat-itudes!

Keep Time with The Beatitudes Song

blessedsong-scrnshotPass out the lyric sheets. Project or display the music video.  

(As long as you own the iTunes version of the song, you can legally project/display/playback the YouTube version of the song for personal or teaching purposes. Please note: the license does not include "public performance," such as, in worship.)

Run through the Beatitudes music video once —keeping beat with your beat-makers. Sing with it, and some of your students will try to sing along. (Be aware that some will not want to sing, and that's okay.) Students can follow along on the screen or using their lyric sheets. The lyric sheets are a take-home, and can also be used for further discussion of how the artist interpreted the Beatitudes slightly different than are found in our Bibles.)

Now tell them you're going to play it again, and this time, ask them to sing louder now that they know it better, and to also keep the beat but try new sounds and beats that are still IN TIME. (Give them a few examples of changing the sound of their beat, or syncopating,  but staying in time with the music. Suggest that some beats can be soft during certain lyrics, and other instruments can move to the forefront of your sound during the chorus.)

Note that Matthew 5: 13-14 adds two images at the end of the Beatitudes: Salt and Light. It's as if Jesus was saying, "If you follow my beat-itudes, you will be useful to others as well as pleasing to God.

If time: Videotape or record the performance on cellphones and play it back.  


Adaptations

For Younger Students: 
Non-readers will have to pick up the lyrics by listening to the song and to you. They'll pick up the words "shake shake..." easily.   You may even take time to have them MAKE a "salt shaker" using a plastic container and some coarse rock salt that they can also take home. 

For Older Students: 
Add a cool factor by using boomsticks, five gallon buckets, and trashcan lids (a la "Stomp"). As you rehearse, have them "get in sync" with you, pass around the lead and let them change it. Note that "being disciples is like following Jesus' lead."

Downloading and Using the Music Video:
As long as you have purchased the song, you can show the video. We recommend showing the video because it has the lyrics displayed with it.

End Notes:
Write the URL of the YouTube video version of the song on the song lyric sheets so the kids can listen to it at home (permitted for personal use). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yxs5wFpnGg Please note: the publisher requires the purchase of the song for worship or group use.


Rhythm and Music Enhances Memory and the Learning Experience!

Various studies, including one done at UCLA, point to the power of rhythm to build memories around your lesson content. That's why we "beat" the Beatitudes. According to a Johns Hopkins study, using music also has these additional benefits:

Music helps us learn because it will--

  • establish a positive learning state
  • create a desired atmosphere
  • build a sense of anticipation
  • energize learning activities
  • change brain wave states
  • focus concentration
  • increase attention
  • improve memory
  • facilitate a multisensory learning experience
  • release tension
  • enhance imagination
  • align groups towards a common objective
  • develop a sense of rapport among participants
  • provide inspiration and motivation
  • add an element of fun

For further reference:
Impact of Rhythm on Memory: https://www.scribd.com/doc/485...m-Upon-Verbal-Memory
Johns Hopkins study on music: http://frequencyoflearning.com...ic-in-the-classroom/


Written by Neil MacQueen for the Rotation.org Writing Team
Copyright 2016, Rotation.org Inc.

Beatitudes Song, lyrics and lead sheet, Copyright © 2013 Matt Mason/Mandi M./Brook Hills Music, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Music, lyrics and song sheet used here with the permission of the publisher.

Attachments

Last edited by Luanne Payne
Original Post
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