Music and Identity

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is the second lesson in the Year 12 unit "Exploring New Zealand Music". It focuses on understanding how music reflects personal and cultural identity in Aotearoa and the role music plays in fostering community and belonging. The lesson is designed for 30 students in a New Zealand secondary school and closely follows the New Zealand Curriculum, integrating relevant learning objectives, key competencies, and curriculum values.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Explain how music expresses personal and cultural identity in New Zealand contexts, including Māori, Pākehā, and Pasifika perspectives (Arts Learning Area: The Arts > Music, Levels 7-8).
• Analyse the role of music in building community and fostering a sense of belonging.
• Discuss examples of New Zealand music that reflect diverse cultural identities.
• Develop key competencies: thinking, using language/symbols/texts, relating to others, and participating and contributing through collaborative discussions.

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Curriculum Links

The New Zealand Curriculum — The Arts (Music)

• Achievement Objectives:

  • Level 7: Students understand music as a means of personal and cultural expression.
  • Level 8: Students analyse how music contributes to community identity and cultural belonging.

• Key Competencies:

  • Thinking — exploring creative and critical ideas about identity and music.
  • Using language, symbols, and texts — interpreting and discussing music and its cultural meanings.
  • Relating to others and Participating and contributing — sharing perspectives in group discussions respectfully.

• Principles and Values:

  • Treaty of Waitangi principle: Incorporating Māori music and perspectives as integral to Aotearoa’s identity.
  • Cultural diversity: Valuing the histories and traditions of all New Zealand communities.
  • Community engagement: Connecting learning to students’ whānau and wider communities to foster belonging and local relevance .

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Materials Needed

• Audio samples of New Zealand music representing different cultures (e.g., Māori waiata, Pasifika beats, Pākehā contemporary music).
• Whiteboard or smartboard for note-taking and mind mapping.
• Handouts with lyrics or background information on selected songs/artists.
• Speakers or sound system for clear audio playback.
• Student notebooks or digital devices for note-taking.

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Lesson Outline

Time	Activity	Description
0-5 mins	Introduction & Warm-up	Brief teacher introduction to the lesson’s focus: music and identity in Aotearoa. Pose the question: "What does your favourite New Zealand music say about you?" Take a few student responses to activate prior knowledge.
5-15 mins	Listening & Reflection	Listen to 3-4 short (1-2 min) audio clips representing diverse New Zealand music styles (e.g., a traditional Māori waiata, a contemporary Pasifika song, a Pākehā indie track). After each, students jot down how the music might reflect identity and community.
15-25 mins	Group Discussion	In small groups (4-5 students), students share their reflections and discuss: How does this music express culture or individuality? How might it build a sense of community or belonging? Teacher circulates, prompts discussion using key questions.
25-35 mins	Whole Class Sharing & Mind Map	Groups present highlights from their discussions. Teacher facilitates and constructs a mind map on the board linking music, identity, culture, and community belonging. Include Māori terms like whānau, hapū, iwi, whakawhanaungatanga where relevant.
35-43 mins	Individual Reflection Writing	Students write a brief personal reflection: "How is music part of your identity or your community?" Encourage use of examples from their own experience or the NZ music heard. This supports literacy and reflective thinking skills.
43-45 mins	Plenary and Next Steps	Teacher summarises key ideas and reminds students that future lessons will explore specific New Zealand music genres and artists in more detail. Assign a simple task: bring a NZ song that represents their identity for sharing next lesson.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative assessment during group and class discussions by observing contributions and understanding.
• Teacher provides immediate verbal feedback and scaffolding to support inclusive participation.
• Collect individual written reflections to gauge depth of understanding and personal connection to music and identity; feedback can be given in the next lesson.
• Reflects the ongoing assessment for learning approach emphasised in the Curriculum .

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Teaching Considerations

• Ensure a safe, inclusive classroom environment where students respect diverse backgrounds and opinions.
• Respect the Treaty of Waitangi and include Māori language and cultural references authentically to affirm bicultural foundations of New Zealand society.
• Use accessible language and scaffold supports for learners with diverse needs and English language learners.
• Encourage students to think critically about music’s role beyond entertainment — as an expression of personal stories and cultural heritage.
• Promote whakawhanaungatanga (relationship building) through group collaboration linked to the community focus of the lesson.

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Extension Ideas

• Invite a local musician or cultural expert to talk about music and identity in their community.
• Explore music videos or lyrics of NZ songs linked to social movements or cultural narratives for deeper analysis.
• Create a class playlist reflecting student identities to share via a digital platform.

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This detailed lesson plan is designed to engage Year 12 students in critical and creative exploration of music as a powerful vehicle for expressing and shaping New Zealand identities, grounded in the New Zealand Curriculum framework and values.

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If you need further lesson plans or resources aligned to this unit, please ask!