Free Draw

by Aaron Nigel Smith

In this activity you will listen to different kinds of music and learn to express what you hear by drawing it! Find out if different kinds of music inspire you to draw in new ways!

Learning Target

● I can listen and describe what I hear in music
● I can express feelings through art and identify how making and listening to art affects my emotions.

Materials

Paper or sketchbook
Crayons, markers or colored pencils
Phone, computer or tablet for listening to music
Headphones (optional)

Instructions

1. Find a Quiet work space and set up your materials. Identify how you feel before you begin drawing and listening to music.

2. Go to YouTube and listen to “Aaron Nigel Smith ONE feat. Dubtonic Kru & Tommy Shepherd.”

3. While you listen draw a mountain. What sounds do you hear? Allow the sound of the music to influence how you draw your mountain. If the music makes you feel sad, maybe it’s a rainy beach day. How do you feel while you are drawing and listening? What do you hear in the music? Did your mood change while listening and drawing?

4. When you finish listening to ‘ONE,’ get a new clean paper. Go to YouTube and listen to Canon in D by Pachelbel. As you listen, draw another mountain. Listen to what you hear in the music and allow this mountain to be different from the first one you drew.

5. When you finish listening to ‘Canon in D,’ Get a new clean paper. Go to YouTube and listen to The Star Spangled Banner by Jimi Hendrix. Draw another mountain and this time think about how you feel while listening to the music. Allow your feelings to inspire how you draw your mountain.

Reflection

Write in your journal or draw in your sketchbook
● Look at all 3 drawings. Which one is your favorite? Why?
● Can you describe how the sound of each song made you draw the mountains differently?
● Did you notice how you felt as you listened to each song? Did you feel calm or nervous, happy or sad? Something else?

Extra

● Listen to your favorite song and draw anything you like.
● Listen to the radio while drawing a picture of a family member.
● Listen to the sounds of nature and draw a picture of yourself.
● Learn more about Aaron Nigel Smith and his work at OneWorldChorus.org or at AaronNigelSmith.com