This started out when I noticed that a lot of students couldn't make sense of a song lyric or didn't

know the background/history. A lot of the time the explanation is literal and not interpretative at

all. Plus I wanted them to "Understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disci-

plines outside the arts." In this project the students compared two or more elements of each art

(for example, timbre in music, line in visual arts, etc.) and how it can be used to transform similar events, scenes,

emotions, or ideas into works of art.

For the first part of the project, music students listened to and discussed various interpretations of the song ―What a

Wonderful World‖. The students then were given a set of lyrics from the song and found Creative Commons

images which represented the words. The students had to use proper bibliographic format to cite the picture and they also created a ―student statement‖ using the elements of music in their explanation of why they chose a certain

picture.

The second part of the project involved art students viewing the selected images and doing Gesture Line Drawings

of the exact same image or mood. Gesture Line sounds just like what it means. It's a form of line that has a sense of

emotion, or feeling to it. These lines can be soft and dreamy or hard and angry. Artists often use this technique to

warm up and loosen up their right brain. A gesture drawing can be a doodle or squiggly line. Students eventually

begin to call these studies "scribbles." It is like brainstorming or free writes—when you don't care about penman-

ship, spelling, or grammar—you're just trying to get the idea down as quickly as you can. Gesture line is quick,

continuous movement in which value is increased by closeness and pressure of overlaps.

As this project progressed the students were aware that they were thinking outside of the class in which they were

in. Music students had to become artists in choosing images and art students had to become like musicians in

freely creating a composition. The project developed into a ―book‖, with a mixture of images, text, and drawings.

It was through this book that I was able to show how different arts portray the same scene in unique ways, and

have the students craft an abstract visual piece in response to a musical composition.

LYRICAL CONNECTIONS

“WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD”

I see trees of green

Matt M.

Jon.t. "Flickr Photo Download: A Sea of Leaves." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://

www.flickr.com/photos/titusjon/1313828154/sizes/m/>.

The song ―What a wonderful world‖ says 'I See Trees of Green', which instantly formed the picture of green leaves in my mind because the song is so calming and smooth. The way the music and timbre

sways and moves made me think of leaves swaying in the wind. When I found this picture, I was stuck

between a picture of a old tree and these leaves. But the green of the leaves is so tranquil that it fits per-

fectly for these lyrics, and it makes you feel like your walking under a canopy of trees while singing this song, which is why I picked this picture. —Tiana B.

red roses too.

Larrisa M.

I picked this image because it is in fact, red roses. The picture seems so peaceful and quite fit-

ting to show what a wonderful world this is! I also love the focus of the shot too, and how the

focus is on just one rose, yet the rest of the roses are still in the shot, but slightly blurred, which

kind of gives it a dream like effect- like the song ―What a Wonderful World‖.—Alexa B.

Dyanna. "Spray Roses on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. 11 May 2009. Web. 12

Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/43378423@N00/3523540903/>.

I see them bloom,

Erica G.

―Little Stars‖ Little Stars. Flickr, 10 Nov. 2007. Web. 16 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/

photos/12839626@N04/1949102662/>

The picture looks gentle, nice and relaxing like the melody of the music. I think this picture is a

very good fit to the lyrics. It looks like the earth blooming in the springtime. You can imagine

the flowers coming into bloom all wonderful in the world.—Peter D.

for me and you.

Krystan

Compfight. Sausyn. Web. 10 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/39084226@N00/2373020779

The song ―What a Wonderful World‖ is telling me that the world is beautiful. It also is telling

me about a people in this beautiful world. It was slow in parts, but fast in parts. The difference

made the song interesting. The guy's voice was smooth and made the song flow. It would be

good to use at a wedding too.—Devin H.

And I think to myself,

Peyton B.

Gutter. "Flickr Photo Download: I'm Thinking Of..." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web. 09 Mar. 2010.

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/somemixedstuff/2403249501/sizes/m/>.

This picture relates to art and music by the way the picture look and how it is made. This

makes me feel like the person is thinking about something important.—Claire K.

what a wonderful world.

"Flickr Photo Download: A World in a Marble?" Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Seeks2dream, 16 Jan. 2008.

Web. 12 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/seeks2dream/2197557863/sizes/m/>.

I chose this picture because in the lyrics, what a wonderful world, this picture does look amaz-

ing and you can see how the green looks like land and the blue looking like water. And, if you

look closely, the droplets of water really look like stars. See, it is amazing! - Mailan D.

I see skies of blue,

Charnae M.

Feileacan. "Flickr Photo Download: Liffey Sunset a La Nokia - Dublin, Ireland." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Shar-

ing. Feileacan, 4 Oct. 2007. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamilne/1485961106/sizes/m/>.

The reason I choose this picture for these lyrics I see shies of blue. is because when Louis Armstrong said this he's

talking about how in this wonderful world there's blue sky in the world that does wonders like making people

happy each day of there life. I think Louis wanted to say this because they finishes the world and gives us rain,

snow and sun to live. There's no way he could have said it any better because the sky is the limit and this really is a

wonderful world and when you set your mind to something and you believe than you can do anything. –Katie J.

and clouds of white.

Ally A.

Katarina 2353. "Smaragdine Field on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web. 11 Mar.

2010.<http://www.flickr.com/photos/72179079@N00/3588516981/>

The element of music, relaxed, relates to the image because it looks very calm. The element of

art, color, relates to the clouds because they are very white.—Daniel L

The bright blessed day,

Travis S.

Sjostrom, Vilhelm. ―D2X_6175.jpg on Flickr—Photo Sharing!‖ Welcome to Flickr—Photo Sharing. 30 Mar. 2007.

Web. 15 Mar. 2010. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mureena/439585525/sizes/m/

I chose this picture because, to me it looks like a bright blessed day just like the line in the song

is. I know the picture is not so bright but I don’t think that really matters. Since the creator of

the song didn’t say it had to be bright. I think the picture looks calm beautiful, and blessed. It

relates to music because it has a story behind it about a beautiful day. And the write of the song

put words behind the picture and made a song. It makes me feel relaxed and that I am on a

cruise in the beautiful surrounding.—Kigura N.

the dark sacred night.

Mark

Flower *L*u*z*a*'s. "Flickr Photo Download: Noche De Luna Llena - Full Moon Night." Welcome to Flickr -

Photo Sharing. Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/luchilu/677786684/sizes/m/>.

The elements of music relate to art because music is a type of art. Music has a certain pattern to

it just like art. The image is a perfect representation of the lyrics ―the dark sacred night‖ be-

cause it is a very dark picture and it is also very pretty and kind of spooky. The image is dark

and sacred just like the lyrics say.—Kevin K.

The colors of the rainbow

Eric S.

Angelocesare. "Flickr Photo Download: The Day after." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web. 11 Mar. 2010.

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/angelocesare/42619591/sizes/m/>.

They relate to music because there would not be a feeling in the world and no one will care. It

makes me feel happy that we have all music in the world and we can feel and talk about the mu-

sic.—Michael

so pretty in the sky,

Katie S.

Dutt, Ugmang. "Dove (Streptopelia Senegalensis) - In Flight on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" Welcome to Flickr - Photo

Sharing. Web. 09 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/7513474@N08/2842015722/>.

It is talking about something that he is looking at the sky and sees something pretty. Well, in a

wonderful world the littlest things can make you laugh and smile so looking up in the sky to see

something pretty clams you down. I don't think the words could be written any better. I picked

this picture because the bird is pretty and graceful, the sky is also calming. The different colors

on the bird are peaceful as we as pretty.—Delaney P.

are also on the faces

Paige C.

M, Library. "Flickr Photo Download: Happy Fruit Grass." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. 4 Feb. 2006. Web. 09

Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/libraryman/95516793/sizes/m/>.

The colors of this picture make me feel like they're like the song because the colors are bright

and the song is happy. I feel the lyrics are talking about being happy so I picked the happy face.

The song sort of felt like it would be outdoors so I picked the grass because it is outdoors. It

makes me feel like the picture would be there when the song is played. It to me really fits the

song and it is happy.—Micah S.

of people going by.

Grace B.

Aeioux. "A Couple Walking Their Dog past Balloons on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" Welcome to Flickr - Photo Shar-

ing. 3 Sept. 2005. Web. 10 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/54258032@N00/39908474/>.

I picked this picture because I think it expresses and represents the lyrics ‖ of people walking

by‖ because in this picture people are walking by. This picture also relates to the lyrics ― of peo-

ple walking by‖ because these lyrics have a soft sound and a couple walking by if in a song

would be very soft and sweet. This image makes me feel relaxed, calm, and quiet.—Marc S.

I see friends shaking hands

Kayla C.

Verosassi4. "Image Search for Friends Shaking Hands |." Compfight | A Flickr" Search Tool. Web. 11 Mar. 2010.

<http://compfight.com/search/friends-shaking-hands/1-0-1-1>

It is a good picture especially with the flower it is just a wonderful thing. It's just a pretty site.

It makes me feel good.—Damion S.

saying how do you do,

Moriza. "Friendlies." Www.compfight.com. Moriza, 9 June 2008. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/

photos/moriza/2565606353/>.

I think that people are trying to make others feel good. The song is what a wonderful world so

people are saying thanks for life and have a good one he chose these lyrics because he is saying

that life is good and happy. They are saying that people like their life and want it to be endless.

The instruments go along with this image because the song is slow the image looks like it is in

slow motion. This picture makes me feel happy when it is compared to the lyrics.—Brenden S.

they're really saying

Meghan F.

Gregorcic, Ajda. "Summer Business Party Invitation Illustration on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" Welcome to Flickr -

Photo Sharing. Web. 10 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/8227245@N04/2752835362/>.

I think the elements of the music relate to the picture because it shows people communicating

and getting along. The picture has bright and vibrant colors that I think should go with What a

Wonderful World, not dull colors. I chose this picture because everybody seems happy talking

to each other and my lyrics are They are really saying so I thought this picture would be appro-

priate for those lyrics.– Marley T.

I love you.

Victoria N.

GiselaGiardino², TheAlieness. "Under My Umbrella on Flickr - Photo Sharing!" Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing.

Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/36613169@N00/1828177743/>.

I chose this image because I think that hearts are the best way to represent love. Also, when

Louis Armstrong sings these lyrics, he seems happy. This image makes me think of love being

happy.—Chloe W.

I hear babies cry,

Christian P.

Romay, Natalia. "Flickr Photo Download: Phoebe." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web. 12 Mar. 2010. <http://

www.flickr.com/photos/nataliaromay/2515955945/sizes/m/>.

I picked this picture because my title is I hear babies cry and I didn't want to use crying so I

picked babies. The relationship to the song and lyric is when babies are born they cry so when

babies are born it makes it a wonderful world. I think he these lyrics because maybe when ba-

bies are born he thinks its a wonderful word and makes him happy. I don't think there is a better

picture because people are always using actual babies so I changed it up and made it an

Animal.—Syann V.

I watch them grow,

Mallika K.

Centaurs, Scorpions And. "Flickr Photo Download: Spring Has Sprung!" Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing. Web.

09 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/sshb/3756415244/sizes/m/>.

―I watch them grow‖ are the lyrics that I got. Flowers grow, babies grow, we grow, everything

pretty much grows. Since grow is in the lyrics I chose flowers because I think it would repre-

sent the lyrics the most. People are watching flowers grow is how I would describe the lyrics of

the song that I got. It makes me feel good and happy. When I look at the picture I automatically

think of flowers growing.—Makayla W.

what a wonderful world!

Jon S.

Heigan, Martin. "Flickr Photo Download: Botanical Garden (Stereographic)." Welcome to Flickr - Photo Sharing.

Web. 11 Mar. 2010. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/martin_heigan/1450046162/sizes/m/>.

I chose this picture because it shows a ―green‖ world with a bright blue day. So it reminds me

of a wonderful world. My elements relate to art because of its harmony and timbre because it

shows a relaxed kind of music. Because it reminds me of a wonderful world and my lyrics are

―what a wonderful world.‖ - Michael H.