MUSIC - Responding to Music Through Visual Art

There can be many different ways of responding to creative works. Often people discuss what they think of a piece, or how it makes them feel. Sometimes people are inspired to behave differently based on a particular piece. Personally, I am often inspired to create art in response to other people’s art. When I see a painting or illustration, it gives me ideas for my own visual art. I have choreographed dances in my mind based on particular pieces of music that resonate with me. I have also painted in response to music.

As music is a solely auditory art form, often people couple it with other creative works such as dance or film. The music acts to deepen an audience’s response to the other art form, and vice versa. When music is experienced on its own, however, it can open up the imagination of the listener and create not only emotions but images and memories, either abstract or realistic. In the classroom, music can easily be used as a prompt for visual art such as drawing or painting. In one of my music tutorials, Kate Williams conducted a session of drawing with felt pens based on a piece of music. It is a very different way of creating compared with children’s usual desire and encouragement by teachers to draw or paint concrete objects, as emotion can lead to abstract designs and patterns.

Choosing music for this type of experience is important. Instrumentation without vocals is particularly effective, as it limits children’s temptation to simply listen and respond to the lyrics. For young children, first pick pieces that have quite an obvious mood to them. As they become used to the experience, more complex pieces will further challenge their thinking.

This experience will support children’s creative thinking, and their musical literacy. It will also help to build their social/emotional intelligence as they express emotions in a positive form, and are able to respond to the work of peers.

Key curriculum links:

Australian Curriculum: The Arts (Music)

• ACAMUR083 – respond to music and consider where and why people make music, starting with Australian music, including music of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Australian Curriculum: The Arts (Visual Arts)

• ACAVAM106 – explore ideas, experiences, observations and imagination to create visual artworks and design, including considering ideas in artworks by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists

Early Years Learning Framework

• Outcome 5.2 – Children engage with a range of texts and gain meaning from these texts

• Outcome 5.3 – Children express ideas and make meaning using a range of media

A child's expressive drawing (2015)

A mixed media artwork created in response to a piece of music (2015)