Korean Job Discussion Forums

nene · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Location: Samcheok, Gangwon-do

very cool with the slide whistle, if it sounds like what i think it would. i want one - what does it look like?

i was just starting to put together a lesson with songs like postal service "sleeping in" and ben harper "the will to live", was thinking of adding some jack johnson and damien rice, for the ballad lovers, and i really wanted some good political hip-hop, like krs-one, but it all seems too advanced and/or eubonic...any ideas in hip-hop? anyway, think i'm aiming too high for first year high school thru undergrad?

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

I got my slide whistle at a music shop near Insa-dong (right near the #5 exit, purple line) I balked at paying mon won (like ten bucks) since I used to pay less than a dollar (when I used them at anti- Vietnam-war demonstrations as leader of the "People's Band") The sound can be so piercing that I call it my "sound weapon" - and it can be played loud enough to jam with heavily amped electric guitars ... Cool

nene · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Location: Samcheok, Gangwon-do

yeah, i was thinking maybe that black eyed peas song 'where is the love?', since they like R+B so much. i haven't done any music before...i was just thinking the electronic-ness of postal service might fly, but you might be right....

ghee - i live in busan, what does one of these things look like... i definitely need a sound weapon...

Rteacher · Joined: 23 May 2005 Location: Western MA, USA

A "slide whistle" is a plastic (usually colored blue or red) cylinder-shaped thing (about half inch in diameter and twelve inches long - I don't know centimeters...) with a white mouthpiece and a thin metal "slide" that provides suction to alter the sound ... Probably, more than a few music stores carry them ...

nene · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Location: Samcheok, Gangwon-do

so far, i've done four music lessons, for a class of 16 yr old girls and a class of high school to undergrad students. for each one, we talked a bit about the history/evolution of hte music and then analyzed the lyrics of a song or two.

the first was blues, which they liked the history of, but didn't dig the music much. actually, some liked a song called 'why blues' by chris thomas king. next was a jazz lesson, which they looked like they were going to fall asleep in. they thought louis armstrong sounded like a wierdo, they didn't get miles at all, and patricia barber made them laugh. oh well.

then i did a pop lesson, which they were excited for. we did beautiful by christina aguilera, whihc most knew before the class... they were really into the lyrical analysis of that song (which is more subtle than i would've given her credit for). we also did sleeping in by postal service, which they liked, but they either didn't get or didn't care about the lyrics of.

last was an R+B lesson with diary by alicia keys and burn by usher. both are acceptably mild, imho. they were obviously super-exacited to do these songs, and enjoyed the analysis, though not as much as the listening.

now i want to do a hip hop lesson, but you're right qinella, it's just impossible to find a song! surely someone has a hip hop song that's not all slang/eubonic, that's not too difficult and that has a theme acceptable for the classroom, right? the only one i might be able to use now is krs one's why, which is difficult, but slang free and about society. any ideas would be more than welcome...

Lizara · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Location: Seoul

I get to teach music as part of our kindergarten program. The Korean teachers choose the songs, usually without telling me until I get to class, all the students tell me I'm trying to do the wrong song, and I make someone go get the Korean teacher to tell me what the new music is. Yesterday this happened and the Korean teacher came back with the lyrics to... Barbie Girl.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Well, in the land of pop-tarts, you might want to introduce them to a variety of musical genres...and nihilism. How about Iggy and the Stooges or Nine Inch Nails?

PS. Don't blame me if it goes over like a fart in church. Laughing

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Fredbob · Posted: Wed Nov 30, 2005 2:38 pm Post subject: some accessible hip hop

Some pretty good hip hop songs, meaning the lyrics aren't totally eubonics and the rap isn't totally subsumed by the beat if you turn the base down a little:
DMX-particularly The Great Depression (basically a poem-Sometimes)
Public Enemy-New Whirl Odor or Fear of A Black Planet
Digable Planets- They only have two cd's which are easy listens
Wycleff Jean
Finally, although they are kind of played Insane Clown Posse-on the Amazing Jeckel Brothers there are a few songs that are almost nursery rhymes, twisted ones but workable for a grammar lesson or two

blunder1983 · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Try, "Is this the way to Amarillo" by Tony someone and eature Peter Kay.

It was recently made popular in England by red nose day and is irritatingly catchy. It also has clapping in it and lots of meaningless "sha la la la la" bits which lower the difficulty for them.

We're learning it after Xmas but I played it to my first years and they really liked it.