OVERVIEW

LEADER PREPARATION

Obtain the following materials:

• Overhead projector and transparencies.
• Decent sound system with multiple devices.
• TV and VCR.
• PA system (if the size of the audience warrants).
• Slips of paper and pencils for everyone.

The leader should spend time talking to kids in his or her target audience in order to find out which music videos and songs are most popular. The leader should select one or two videos which have a clear (discernable) message that can be used to bring out kids feelings and/or emotions.

GROUP BUILDING

Use any of the following "ice breakers":

Name game. Each participant gets a pencil and ten slips of paper. Give them one minute to brainstorm ten different musical groups and/or artists. Split the group in to two even sides and mix all the slips in a container. Teams alternate turns. One member of the team takes the container of names. Pulling out one slip of paper at a time, he or she quickly offers clues to his or her team about the identity of each slip pulled out of the hat (much like charades except they can talk). The player cannot "pass" on to the next slip before the group guesses. The player has thirty seconds to go through as many as possible. When time is called, the container is given to the other team for their turn. When slips are all gone, tally up the score. Leader should keep used slips as an excellent source of popular artists names. Name that person (or group). The leader provides magazine pictures of famous (and not so famous) bands and musical artists. Split the group into three or four smaller teams. The leader holds up picture, and teams try to identify them. The first to correctly identify the subject(s) in the picture gets a point. This can also be done with short audio cuts from tapes or CDs. Another name game. Label each person with the name of a famous musical artist or group with a tag on their back. No one sees what is on their back, but they can see everyone else’s. The object is for each person to find out who he or she "is" by walking around and asking people yes/no questions about the label on one’s back. Lipsync. As a short skit, have leaders come wearing ridiculous outfits; have them lipsync an outrageous but popular song…the stranger the better!

GROUP PRESENTATION

Have leader give a short introduction to the topic for the evening. Play the music video.

GROUP DISCUSSION

Divide into small groups of no larger than six. Have each group leader discuss these questions:

• Did you like or dislike the video? Why or why not?
• What message, if any, did you pick up from the song?
• What was the visual message of the video? Did it seem to work together with the lyrics?
• How does the message of this song affect you? Does it affect your moods? How?
• Would you ever watch this video with your parents? Why or why not?

WRAP-UP

Present the following conclusions:

• Music does affect us.
• The effects can be positive or negative.
• What you watch may affect what you believe.

EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP

This exercise is most effective if repeated several times. In order to give more ownership to the kids, ask for their suggestions of groups that they want to discuss in the near future. Leaders must be careful to not criticize the kids’ music, because that will generally deter them from engaging in lively discussions. From this point, the youth group could learn about different types of music and messages sent by the music. Encourage kids to critique their own music: this is the best way for them to take more responsibility for what they are listening to.

IMPLICATIONS

• Taking the time to do the research necessary for this discussion is helpful for understanding youth culture.
• Along with an increased knowledge of the popular music, the leader, through the small group discussions, will learn more about his or her kids and what is important to them. There is no substitute for the deepened relationships that result from small group sharing.
• As a leader becomes more aware of the current popular music videos and how they affect young people, there may be opportunities to share this insight with parents.

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