About this lesson
Cover versions of songs have grown in popularity over recent years – largely thanks to YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. There are lots of excellent, innovative cover versions of songs from artists all around the world and some are truly inventive.
This lesson asks students to compare and contrast two versions of the same song – the original, plus a cover version.
The students will consider:
- tempo
- instruments and voices
- mood/feel
- style
- texture
- plus other musical elements
This lesson is extremely adaptable – there are a set of questions for students to answer (individually or as a group) in the provided worksheet and you can use any cover song and original you like.
It works well as a bellringer activity (also known as a “get the students to class quickly” activity), a quick mini lesson or could be expanded into a broader unit of work on arranging and composing, which includes students creating and performing their own cover versions of songs.
I’ve given a few examples of interesting cover versions below but you are encouraged to find songs that work well for your student group or even ask the students for suggestions.
Which age group is this suitable for?
This is an adaptable lesson which would work with students of most ages. Younger students can do the activity as a class group, guided by you. Students in middle and high school could work in small groups or independently.
Cover version examples
Below are some example cover songs to get you started. The videos have been saved into a Wakelet collection (Wakelet is a website that allows you to curate and share links). If you would like to view the collection directly on Wakelet itself, click here.
Free listening worksheet
Download a copy of this lesson which includes the free listening worksheet.
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