Advertising Jingles (2)

Following from the experience of listening to advertising jingles, the children will be asked to compose a simple TV jingle. To make it easy for them in the first instance, the task can be limited to 5 seconds. However, many children will exceed this!

The following questions can be asked to help shape the composition:

• Will your product demand a serious investment (such as a house or car).
• Should the music be slow and serious, or fast and frivolous?
• What will the mood be like (e.g. will it warn the viewers or listeners of possible dangers if this product isn’t purchased? Will this product give you a good night’s sleep, or make you jump out of bed in the morning?)
• What instruments should be used? What kinds of sounds: long, slow sounds, or short, fast sounds?
• How can the sounds be combined?
• Would voices alone, or voices and instruments together be more suitable for this jingle?

Assessment opportunities

Children can be observed as they are engaged in the task. Their level of co-operation, interest, concentration and persistence can be noted during the process, the care they take to create their compositions and the commitment they show in presenting their final product, i.e. the jingles, to the rest of the class.

Summary/follow-up

Record each groups’ compositions and play them back for the class. Talk about them in term’s of the strengths of the compositions and ways in which they might be improved.

How do they compare to ‘professional’ jingles?

Suggestions for advertising jingles

(Cut out and give one card to each group of 4-6 children)