10th Grade  Lesson 45 minutes

Cover Craze: Art Meets Sales Magic!

Tom R
TH:Re8.HS1.a
CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.5
HS-LS3-2
Self Directed Learning
Academic Mindset
+ 1 more
1-pager

Purpose

Students will explore the impact of album art on music perception and sales by analyzing various artistic styles and their influence on genre popularity. They will engage in a project-based activity where they create their own album art, considering artistic choices and audience appeal. Through peer feedback and self-reflection, students will refine their designs, fostering self-directed learning and critical thinking. This experience will help students connect artistic expression with real-world marketing strategies, enhancing their understanding of identity and belonging in the music industry.

Learning goals

Students will analyze and compare different artistic styles in album art, exploring how these styles influence perceptions and popularity within music genres. They will engage in a project where they create their own album art, using personal experiences and feedback to refine their designs. Through this process, students will apply critical thinking to evaluate the impact of visual elements on consumer behavior, and they will reflect on their learning to build self-awareness and self-directed learning skills.
Standards
  • [National Core Arts Standards] TH:Re8.HS1.a - Analyze and compare artistic choices developed from personal experiences in multiple drama/theatre works.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.Math.Content.HSS-MD.B.5 - (+) Weigh the possible outcomes of a decision by assigning probabilities to payoff values and finding expected values.
  • [Next Generation Science Standards] HS-LS3-2 - Make and defend a claim based on evidence that inheritable genetic variations may result from: (1) new genetic combinations through meiosis, (2) viable errors occurring during replication, and/or (3) mutations caused by environmental factors.
Competencies
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.

Products

Students will collaboratively design an album cover for a fictional music artist, incorporating insights from their analysis of how artistic styles influence genre perception. They will create a presentation that explains their design choices, drawing connections to personal experiences and cultural influences. Additionally, students will conduct a mock survey to predict the album's potential market success, using probability and expected value calculations. Finally, students will engage in a peer review session to provide and receive feedback, fostering self-reflection and critical thinking.

Launch

Begin the lesson by displaying a diverse array of album covers from various music genres around the classroom. Invite students to engage in a gallery walk, taking notes on their initial impressions and emotional responses to each cover. Afterward, facilitate a class discussion where students share their observations and hypothesize how the artistic styles might influence the perception and popularity of the music. Encourage students to consider how personal experiences and cultural contexts might shape these interpretations.

Exhibition

Students will create a gallery walk showcasing their album art designs, with each piece accompanied by an artist's statement explaining their artistic choices and the intended impact on the music genre's perception. Peers and teachers will provide feedback on the designs, focusing on how effectively the art communicates the genre's essence and potential market appeal. The exhibition will conclude with a reflective discussion where students share insights on the relationship between visual art and music marketing, integrating feedback into their learning journey.