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Unit 4 of 6 · 8th Grade Language Arts

On the Record

Music as language — write lyrics, liner notes, criticism, and the story behind a sound.

Weeks
19–24 (January–February)
Anchor Text
Music journalism from Pitchfork / NPR Music + lyrics as poetry
Writing Focus
Creative · Expository · Descriptive
Computer Tool
GarageBand / Chrome Music Lab + Google Docs
Showcase
Music writing portfolio + original composition with liner notes
Standards
OR W.8.3 · W.8.4 · RL.8.1 · RL.8.4 · W.8.9
Key Vocabulary — 5 Words This Unit
Lyric — a song's words, often structured like poetry with rhythm, rhyme, and imagery
Connotation — the emotional or cultural meaning a word carries beyond its dictionary definition
Music Criticism — writing that analyzes and evaluates music, discussing sound, lyrics, and cultural context
Mood — the overall feeling or atmosphere a piece of music or writing creates in its audience
Compression — packing maximum meaning into minimum words; a key technique in both lyrics and strong writing
W1Listening as a Writer
Mon Read 2 album reviews — what makes music writing vivid? Reading ▾
  1. Mom will have two album reviews ready (from Pitchfork or NPR Music).
  2. Read both all the way through.
  3. Find one sentence in each review that made you actually picture or feel the music.
  4. Notice: did the reviewer use music words (melody, beat) or other kinds of words (color, texture, emotion)?
  5. Tell mom which review you liked better and why.
💬 "The sentence I liked most was… because it made me think of… The reviewer used words like…"
✓ Done when: you've read both reviews and pointed out one vivid sentence from each.
Tue Active listening: describe a piece of music without using music words Writing ▾
  1. Put on a piece of music — one you know well or one mom picks.
  2. Close your eyes and listen for 1–2 minutes.
  3. Open a Google Doc. Set a timer for 3 minutes.
  4. Write what you heard — but you cannot use: melody, beat, chord, note, tempo, rhythm, tune, song, or any instrument name.
  5. Use color, texture, temperature, movement, and emotion instead.
💬 "It felt like… The color I'd give it is… It moved like… It made me feel…" — say it out loud first, then write it.
✓ Done when: you have 4–6 sentences describing music without any music words.
Wed Write a description of a piece you know well — piano or electronic Writing ▾
  1. Choose a piece you actually know well — something you play, composed, or listen to constantly.
  2. Listen to it (or play it) once before writing.
  3. In Google Docs, write a description of it in your own words.
  4. Include: what it feels like, what it reminds you of, what kind of person or moment it fits.
  5. Aim for 4–6 sentences. No music words.
💬 "This piece sounds like… it reminds me of… the feeling it gives me is… I'd play it when…"
✓ Done when: 4–6 sentences describing a specific piece of music you know well.
Thu Format your description in Google Docs — font and layout to match the music's mood Computer ▾
  1. Open your music description from Wednesday in Google Docs.
  2. Choose a font that matches the mood of the piece — a calm classical piece might use a serif font; an electronic track might use something sharp.
  3. Add a title at the top: the piece's name and the style of music.
  4. Add a one-sentence intro before the description explaining what the piece is.
  5. Save and export it as a PDF.
💬 Think of the design as part of the writing — the font and layout tell the reader something before they read a word.
✓ Done when: description is formatted with title, font choice, and saved as a PDF.
Fri Read descriptions aloud — can others identify the piece? Discussion ▾
  1. Read your description out loud to mom — don't say what the piece is yet.
  2. Ask her: from just the words, what does she picture or feel?
  3. Then reveal the piece and play a bit of it for her.
  4. Discuss: did the words match the music? What one word or phrase worked best?
  5. Revise one sentence in your description based on the conversation.
💬 "Does this description match the music? Which part surprised you? What would you change?"
✓ Done when: description read aloud, discussed, and at least one sentence revised.
Weekly Writing Prompt

Describe a piece of music you know well using only non-musical language. No words like melody, beat, or chord. Use color, texture, temperature, movement, and emotion.

"This piece feels like… The color I'd give it is… It moves like… I'd listen to it when…"

Length: 4–6 sentences. One strong image is worth more than five vague ones.

✅ Weekly Checklist
W2Lyric Writing
Mon Analyze lyrics as poetry — compare two very different songwriters Reading ▾
  1. Mom will have lyrics from two artists printed out — one with very direct, storytelling lyrics and one with more abstract or poetic ones.
  2. Read both sets of lyrics out loud.
  3. For each, find one line that is very specific (names a place, color, object, or moment).
  4. For each, find one line that uses imagery (makes you picture something).
  5. Tell mom: which style of lyrics do you write more like? Which do you prefer to listen to?
💬 "The most specific line I found was… The image I liked most was… I think I write more like [artist] because…"
✓ Done when: you've found specific lines and imagery examples and shared your preference.
Tue Poetic devices in lyrics — rhyme, repetition, imagery workshop Writing ▾
  1. Look at the lyrics from yesterday.
  2. Find one example of rhyme (end rhyme or internal rhyme).
  3. Find one example of repetition (a line or word that comes back).
  4. Find one example of imagery (a line that paints a picture).
  5. Try writing one line using each device — three practice lines total, just to get the feel.
💬 "A line with rhyme: [your line]. A line with repetition: [your line]. A line with imagery: [your line]." Keep each one short — 5–10 words.
✓ Done when: three example devices found in the lyrics + three of your own practice lines written.
Wed Write a draft of original lyrics: 2 verses and a chorus Writing ▾
  1. Choose a specific feeling or moment — not a general theme like "friendship" but something like "the feeling when a game ends and you don't want it to."
  2. Write Verse 1: 4–8 lines. Set the scene. Be specific — name something real.
  3. Write a Chorus: 4–6 lines. This is the heart of the song — the part that repeats.
  4. Write Verse 2: 4–8 lines. Develop the idea — go deeper or shift the angle.
  5. Don't worry about rhyme yet — just get the lines down.
💬 Start with what you actually feel: "What's a specific moment I remember well?" — then write about that exact moment, not a general version of it.
✓ Done when: Verse 1, Chorus, and Verse 2 are written in Google Docs — even rough draft is fine.
Thu Type lyrics in Google Docs and experiment with a beat in Chrome Music Lab Computer ▾
  1. Format your lyrics nicely in Google Docs — label Verse 1, Chorus, Verse 2.
  2. Open Chrome Music Lab (musiclab.chromeexperiments.com) — try the Song Maker.
  3. Build a simple beat or pattern that matches the mood of your lyrics.
  4. Optional: record yourself reading or rapping the lyrics over the beat (phone voice memo works).
💬 The beat doesn't have to be complex — even a simple loop that matches the mood is enough to test whether the lyrics feel right.
✓ Done when: lyrics are formatted in Google Docs and you've played with at least one beat in Music Lab.
Fri Lyric workshop: which lines land? Which feel forced? Discussion ▾
  1. Read your lyrics out loud to mom.
  2. Ask her: which lines made her feel something?
  3. Ask: which lines felt generic or forced?
  4. Pick two lines to revise — make them more specific or more surprising.
  5. Rewrite those two lines and read them again — are they better?
💬 "Which line felt the most real to you? Which felt like filler? Let me try rewriting this one line…"
✓ Done when: workshop done and at least two lines revised.
Weekly Writing Prompt

Write a complete set of lyrics: two verses and a chorus. Pick one specific emotion or moment — not a general theme. The best lyrics name the street, the color, the exact sound.

"I'm writing about [specific moment] — Verse 1 sets up the scene… Chorus is the feeling at the center… Verse 2 goes deeper by…"

Length: Verse 1 (4–8 lines) + Chorus (4–6 lines) + Verse 2 (4–8 lines).

✅ Weekly Checklist
W3Music Criticism
Mon Read three album reviews — map the structure: context, description, judgment Reading ▾
  1. Mom will have three short album or track reviews ready.
  2. Read each one and look for three parts: context (background on the artist), description (what the music sounds like), judgment (what the critic thinks).
  3. For each review, find one sentence that is a judgment — the critic's opinion about whether the music is good.
  4. Notice: how does the critic back up their judgment?
💬 "In this review, the context is… the description part is… and the judgment is… They back it up by…"
✓ Done when: all three reviews read and one judgment sentence identified in each.
Tue Workshop: how to express an opinion about art without saying "I liked it" Writing ▾
  1. Think of a piece of music you have a strong opinion about — love it or hate it.
  2. Try writing your opinion in three ways: (1) "I liked it because…" — the lazy version, (2) "The track [does something specific]…" — the critic version, (3) "Anyone who [does X] should listen because…" — the recommendation version.
  3. Notice which version is the most interesting to read.
  4. Practice writing two more music opinions using versions 2 or 3.
💬 Good critics don't say "it's good" — they say what exactly it does, and why that matters.
✓ Done when: three versions of one music opinion written + two more practice opinions using the stronger approaches.
Wed Write a review of an album or track — judgment + evidence from the music Writing ▾
  1. Choose a piece of music you want to review — something you have a real opinion about.
  2. Write your overall judgment as your first sentence: this is your verdict.
  3. Write 2–3 sentences describing specific things in the music that back up that verdict.
  4. Write one sentence about who this music is for — a recommendation.
  5. Aim for 5–7 sentences total.
💬 Start with your verdict: "This track is [judgment] because…" — then prove it with specifics from the music itself.
✓ Done when: a 5–7 sentence review is written with a judgment sentence first and at least two specific evidence sentences.
Thu Revise review in Google Docs; add a star rating with a written justification Computer ▾
  1. Open your review from Wednesday in Google Docs.
  2. Read it out loud and fix any sentence that sounds awkward.
  3. Add a star rating at the top: ★★★★☆ or similar (copy the stars from anywhere).
  4. Under the rating, write one sentence explaining the number: "Four stars because…"
  5. Format the whole thing to look like a real review: title of the piece, artist name, your rating, your review text.
💬 A star rating forces you to commit to a clear judgment — justify the number honestly.
✓ Done when: review is revised, formatted with a star rating, and justified in one sentence.
Fri Peer workshop — does the review make you want to listen (or not)? Discussion ▾
  1. Read your review to mom — she hasn't heard the piece.
  2. Ask her: after hearing the review, does she want to listen to the music?
  3. Ask: which part of the review was most convincing?
  4. Ask: did she agree with the star rating based on what you wrote?
  5. Revise one thing in the review based on her feedback.
💬 "Did this make you want to listen? What part convinced you the most? Did the rating match what you expected?"
✓ Done when: workshop done and one revision made.
Weekly Writing Prompt

Write a music review. Start with your overall judgment (not "I liked it"). Back it up with 2–3 specific things from the music. End with a recommendation.

"[Piece name] is [judgment] because it… The [specific element] especially… Anyone who [likes X] should listen because…"

Length: 5–7 sentences plus a star rating with a one-sentence justification.

✅ Weekly Checklist
W4Liner Notes & Program Writing
Mon What are liner notes? Read examples from physical and digital releases Reading ▾
  1. Mom will have 2–3 examples of liner notes — some from old CDs or vinyl if she has them, some from digital releases.
  2. Read them and notice: what does each one tell you that you couldn't get just from listening?
  3. Find one piece of liner note text that surprised you or changed how you'd listen to the music.
  4. Tell mom: what do you think liner notes are really for? Who reads them and why?
💬 "This liner note surprised me because… I think people read liner notes when… They're different from reviews because…"
✓ Done when: liner notes read and one surprising piece of information discussed.
Tue Writing workshop: program notes — how to explain music to a listener Writing ▾
  1. Think of a piece you play on piano (or know really well as a listener).
  2. Imagine writing a note to someone who is about to hear it for the first time.
  3. Write three things they should listen for — not music theory, but experience: "Listen for the moment when it suddenly gets quiet…"
  4. Write one sentence about why you chose this piece or why it matters to you.
💬 "When you listen to this, notice… The part I want you to pay attention to is… I chose this piece because…"
✓ Done when: three "things to listen for" written plus one sentence about why the piece matters.
Wed Begin original composition in GarageBand or Chrome Music Lab Computer ▾
  1. Open GarageBand or Chrome Music Lab Song Maker.
  2. Decide on a mood or feeling you want the piece to have.
  3. Start with just 8–16 bars — you don't need a full song, just a beginning.
  4. Experiment with different sounds or instruments until something feels right.
  5. Save what you have — even rough is fine.
💬 Don't overthink it — the goal is to start. Make something that captures one specific feeling, even if it's only 30 seconds long.
✓ Done when: you have at least 8–16 bars of original composition saved.
Thu Continue composition; write a first draft of liner notes for your piece Writing ▾
  1. Add to your composition from yesterday — develop it a bit more.
  2. Open Google Docs and write liner notes for your piece.
  3. Include: (1) what inspired it, (2) the feeling or image you were going for, (3) one specific choice you made (a sound, a tempo, a structure) and why.
  4. Write for someone who loves music but doesn't read music theory.
💬 "I was inspired by… I wanted it to feel like… I chose [specific thing] because…" — write naturally, like you're explaining it to a friend.
✓ Done when: liner notes cover all three things (inspiration, feeling, one technical choice) in Google Docs.
Fri Play composition for mom — do the liner notes match what she heard? Discussion ▾
  1. Play your composition for mom without showing her the liner notes first.
  2. Ask her: what feeling or image did it give her?
  3. Now read your liner notes to her.
  4. Ask: did the notes match what she heard, or was there a gap?
  5. Update the liner notes to address one gap or clarify one thing.
💬 "What did it feel like to you before I read the notes? Now that you read them, did anything change?"
✓ Done when: composition played, liner notes compared to listener's experience, one update made.
Weekly Writing Prompt

Write liner notes for your original composition. Cover: (1) what inspired it, (2) the emotions or images you were aiming for, (3) one specific choice you made and why. Write for a music lover, not a music theorist.

"I started this piece after… I wanted it to feel like… One choice I made was [specific thing] — I did this because…"

Length: 4–6 sentences covering all three elements.

✅ Weekly Checklist
W5The Profile: Writing About a Musician
Mon Read two musician profiles from music journalism Reading ▾
  1. Mom will have two short musician profiles from places like Rolling Stone or NPR Music.
  2. Read both and notice how each one opens — does it start with a scene, a quote, or a fact?
  3. Find one sentence in each that gives you a strong sense of who the musician is.
  4. Notice: does the writer tell you what to think, or do they let details do the work?
  5. Tell mom which profile made you more curious about the musician.
💬 "This profile opened with… The sentence that made the musician feel real was… I'd want to listen to this artist because…"
✓ Done when: two profiles read and one key sentence identified in each.
Tue Profile structure — scene-setting, quotes, narrative, argument Writing ▾
  1. Look back at the profiles from yesterday.
  2. Identify where each one uses a scene (describing a specific moment or place).
  3. Identify where each one makes an argument (a claim about why this artist matters).
  4. Decide which musician you want to write about — it can be real or fictional.
  5. Write three bullet points: one scene you'll open with, one argument about why they matter, one specific detail you'll use.
💬 "I'm writing about [musician]. My opening scene is… My argument is that they matter because… One specific detail I'll use is…"
✓ Done when: three planning bullets written — opening scene, argument, and one detail.
Wed Write a musician profile — someone whose music matters to you Writing ▾
  1. Open Google Docs and write your profile.
  2. Start with your opening scene — put the reader somewhere specific.
  3. Weave in who the musician is and what they've made.
  4. Include the description of their music (no music words — use your Week 1 skills).
  5. End with what makes this artist unique or important.
  6. Aim for 6–10 sentences total.
💬 Start mid-scene: "In [place or moment], [musician] [did something]…" — don't start with "This musician was born in…"
✓ Done when: a 6–10 sentence profile is written that opens with a scene and ends with an argument about why the artist matters.
Thu Format the profile in Google Docs with a "listening list" sidebar Computer ▾
  1. Open your profile in Google Docs.
  2. Format it with a headline (the musician's name or a punchy title).
  3. Add a "Listening List" section at the end — 3–5 specific tracks or pieces you'd recommend.
  4. For each item in the listening list, write one sentence saying why someone should listen to it.
  5. Make the formatting look clean — consistent fonts, a bit of spacing.
💬 The listening list is your gift to the reader — it turns the profile into something useful, not just informational.
✓ Done when: profile has a headline, a formatted body, and a 3–5 item listening list with one sentence per item.
Fri Peer review — does the profile make you want to listen to this artist? Discussion ▾
  1. Read your profile to mom — or have her read it herself.
  2. Ask: did it make her want to listen to this musician?
  3. Ask: which sentence gave the clearest sense of who this artist is?
  4. Ask: what did she want to know that wasn't in the profile?
  5. Revise one thing based on her answers.
💬 "After reading this, do you want to listen to them? What's missing? What was the best line?"
✓ Done when: peer review done and one revision made.
Weekly Writing Prompt

Write a musician profile that opens with a scene, weaves in background and music description, and ends with what makes the artist unique. No biography-report style — write with a point of view.

"In [specific place or moment], [musician] [did something] — it was the kind of [music/moment] that… What makes them different is…"

Length: 6–10 sentences, plus a 3–5 item listening list.

✅ Weekly Checklist
W6Portfolio & Showcase
Mon Compile music writing portfolio — all five pieces together Computer ▾
  1. Open Google Docs and create a new document called "On the Record — Portfolio."
  2. Copy in all five pieces: (1) sound description, (2) lyrics, (3) album review, (4) liner notes, (5) musician profile.
  3. Put a clear heading between each piece.
  4. Read through all five — notice how your voice is consistent across different types of writing.
💬 Reading all your work together is the best way to see how much you've done and how it connects.
✓ Done when: all five pieces are in one document with clear headings between them.
Tue Final revision of all five pieces; format as a cohesive portfolio Computer ▾
  1. Read through each piece one more time.
  2. Fix any sentence that sounds unclear or awkward.
  3. Make sure the formatting is consistent — same font family, consistent spacing.
  4. Add page breaks between each piece so they're clearly separated.
  5. Save and export to PDF.
💬 A portfolio should look intentional — like you made a real publication, not a homework folder.
✓ Done when: all five pieces revised, consistently formatted, and saved as a PDF.
Wed Write a portfolio introduction — 150 words about what music writing means to you Writing ▾
  1. Open your portfolio document and add a page at the very beginning.
  2. Write an introduction to the whole portfolio — this is your voice, your curation, your argument.
  3. Include: what you learned about your own listening or playing by writing about it.
  4. Include: which piece you're most proud of and why.
  5. Aim for 4–6 sentences — enough to frame the whole portfolio for a reader.
💬 "Writing about music taught me… The piece I'm most proud of is… because… What I want readers to know about this portfolio is…"
✓ Done when: portfolio introduction is written and placed at the beginning of the document.
Thu Finalize composition; rehearse showcase — play or playback + reading Discussion ▾
  1. Do a final listen to your composition — does it feel finished?
  2. Make one last small change if something stands out as incomplete.
  3. Plan your showcase: (1) play or play back composition, (2) read one piece from the portfolio out loud.
  4. Run through the showcase once from start to finish — just for practice.
💬 Pick the portfolio piece you most want to share — the one that best shows who you are as a writer about music.
✓ Done when: composition finalized and full showcase run-through completed.
Fri SHOWCASE: Music performance + writing portfolio presentation Showcase ▾
  1. Set up your showcase — composition ready to play, portfolio piece ready to read.
  2. Play or play back your original composition for your audience.
  3. Read your liner notes for the composition out loud.
  4. Then read one other piece from the portfolio — whichever one you're most proud of.
  5. Close with one sentence about what you discovered by writing about music.
💬 You built five pieces of music writing this unit. That's a real portfolio. Show it like one.
✓ Done when: composition performed/played back and at least one portfolio piece read for an audience.
Weekly Writing Prompt

Write a 4–6 sentence introduction to your writing portfolio: what you learned about your own listening or playing by writing about music, and which piece you're most proud of.

"Writing about music taught me… I was surprised to discover… The piece I'm most proud of is [piece] because… What I want you to know before you read this portfolio is…"

Length: 4–6 sentences. This is your voice as a curator — be direct and honest.

✅ Weekly Checklist
Unit Showcase

Music Writing Portfolio + Original Composition

A five-piece writing portfolio (sound description, lyrics, album review, liner notes, musician profile) with a portfolio introduction, plus an original composition with liner notes. Presented with a performance or playback and one portfolio reading.