Lin-Manuel Miranda
Goals
Goals
- Experience a Lincoln Center performance by Lin-Manuel Miranda
- Create poetry out of personal history or feelings.
- Rappin’ and tappin’ your poems- No fear!
- Create your own poetry performance
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Scroll down for a video and corresponding activities. You can replay the link for reference as you experience the activities below.
Video
Video
Lin-Manuel Miranda performs a song from his Broadway smash musical “Hamilton.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda performs a song from his Broadway smash musical “Hamilton.”
This song is entitled “My Shot.”
This song is entitled “My Shot.”
The show is unique, in that the entire script is performed in Rap, Hip Hop, R&B, Pop and Soul.
The show is unique, in that the entire script is performed in Rap, Hip Hop, R&B, Pop and Soul.
Something to know:
Something to know:
Masterfully blending rap, hip-hop, R&B, pop and soul, the hit musical “Hamilton” premiered in 2015 at the Public Theater.
Masterfully blending rap, hip-hop, R&B, pop and soul, the hit musical “Hamilton” premiered in 2015 at the Public Theater.
It tells the story of America’s Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, as he travels to America at only 17 years old, becoming an intrepid statesman, scholar, commander, and economist.
It tells the story of America’s Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, as he travels to America at only 17 years old, becoming an intrepid statesman, scholar, commander, and economist.
In 2016 “Hamilton” received a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations and won 11 awards, including Best Musical.
In 2016 “Hamilton” received a record-breaking 16 Tony nominations and won 11 awards, including Best Musical.
By 2017 “Hamilton” started touring both nationally and globally, quickly becoming a musical sensation.
By 2017 “Hamilton” started touring both nationally and globally, quickly becoming a musical sensation.
Something to listen for:
Something to listen for:
Lyrics to “My Shot”
Lyrics to “My Shot”
I am not throwing away my shot!
I am not throwing away my shot!
Hey yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot!
I am not throwing away my shot!
I am not throwing away my shot!
Hey yo, I’m just like my country
I’m young, scrappy and hungry
And I’m not throwing away my shot!
Listen to the way Lin-Manuel Miranda connects Hamilton’s struggle to a young newly independent America.
Listen to the way Lin-Manuel Miranda connects Hamilton’s struggle to a young newly independent America.
Listen to the intensity and vocalizations used to express emotion. Watch how Lin-Manuel’s facial expressions reflect that emotion in the music and lyrics.
Listen to the intensity and vocalizations used to express emotion. Watch how Lin-Manuel’s facial expressions reflect that emotion in the music and lyrics.
Do you relate to the lyrics and Hamilton’s story?
Do you relate to the lyrics and Hamilton’s story?
Warm Up
Warm Up
Photo Credit: Kevin Yatarola
- Take a deep breath in for two counts and out for two counts.
- Take a deep breath in for four counts and out for four counts.
- Repeat several times.
- Listen to the music again.
- Clap your hands to the beat. Then keep the beat going as you tap your lap.
- Next, step your feet along with the beat. Continue clapping your hands and tapping your lap.
- If you feel like standing up and doing this, great. If you feel like walking around to this rap, do it!
Reflection / Discussion
Reflection / Discussion
1. What do you notice about Lin-Manuel Miranda and James Iglehart?
1. What do you notice about Lin-Manuel Miranda and James Iglehart?
- What are they wearing?
- How do they interact with each other and the audience?
- How do they move their bodies while they perform?
- What do you notice about the space they are in?
2. What did you notice about the music?
2. What did you notice about the music?
- How do the lyrics and the music make you feel?
- Alexander Hamilton was born in 1757…do you relate to any of his struggles today?
- What message is the music sending?
- How would the music feel different if Lin-Manuel Miranda wasn’t rapping the lyrics?
Art-making / Performance
Art-making / Performance
This song takes place when Hamilton is 17 years old. He won a poetry contest, which brought him to the mainland. Newly arrived to America, his new home, he is eager to make a name for himself.
This song takes place when Hamilton is 17 years old. He won a poetry contest, which brought him to the mainland. Newly arrived to America, his new home, he is eager to make a name for himself.
In this activity we will consider our personal thoughts and feelings about what “home” means to us.
In this activity we will consider our personal thoughts and feelings about what “home” means to us.
Then we will create a short poem based on our reflections.
Then we will create a short poem based on our reflections.
Lastly we can perform our poem, inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance of “My Shot.”
Lastly we can perform our poem, inspired by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s performance of “My Shot.”
Step 1: Word Cloud
Step 1: Word Cloud
Materials: Paper, writing or drawing tools.
Materials: Paper, writing or drawing tools.
1. First we will reflect on what “home” means to us.
1. First we will reflect on what “home” means to us.
Consider your responses to these questions:
Consider your responses to these questions:
- What does “home” mean to you?
- What do you love about your home?
- Are there special people or things in your home?
- What do you see, smell, taste, hear, that reminds you of home?
- How do you make someone feel at home?
2. Then we will collect our thoughts in a “Word Cloud.”
2. Then we will collect our thoughts in a “Word Cloud.”
This is a visual representation of the words or phrases we considered when thinking of “home.”
This is a visual representation of the words or phrases we considered when thinking of “home.”
We can write or draw them around a central spot.
We can write or draw them around a central spot.
In my example:
In my example:
- “Home” means family, friends, and music
- I love that I feel safe and comfortable in my home
- My home is filled with plants, light, and love, and my cat and daughter Rachel
Step 2: Poetry Writing
Step 2: Poetry Writing
We will create a poem based on our Word Cloud responses.
We will create a poem based on our Word Cloud responses.
Use this template to fill in the blanks based on your Word Cloud.
Use this template to fill in the blanks based on your Word Cloud.
Don’t forget to give your poem a title.
Don’t forget to give your poem a title.
When I think of home ______________________
When I think of home ______________________
I see_________________________________________
I see_________________________________________
I hear _______________________________________
I hear _______________________________________
I feel ________________________________________
I feel ________________________________________
I smell ______________________________________
I smell ______________________________________
I know I am home when ___________________
I know I am home when ___________________
Home is _____________________________________
Home is _____________________________________
My Example:
My Example:
"My Home"
"My Home"
When I think of home I think of love, and the smile on Rachel’s face.
When I think of home I think of love, and the smile on Rachel’s face.
I see the light reflecting off my plants on the windowsill.
I see the light reflecting off my plants on the windowsill.
I hear music playing and my cat purring.
I hear music playing and my cat purring.
I feel comfort and joy.
I feel comfort and joy.
I smell food cooking.
I smell food cooking.
I know I am home when I feel safe.
I know I am home when I feel safe.
Home is where my heart is.
Home is where my heart is.
Step 3: Performance
Step 3: Performance
Try reading your poem out loud a few times.
Try reading your poem out loud a few times.
Try reading it with the video.
Try reading it with the video.
1. See if you can find a rhythm or beat to it, by breaking up the words.
1. See if you can find a rhythm or beat to it, by breaking up the words.
Example:
Example:
When I ……..think of home, I…………think of love.
When I ……..think of home, I…………think of love.
I smell………food cooking, I know…...I’m safe.
I smell………food cooking, I know…...I’m safe.
2. Try performing your poem for friends or family.
2. Try performing your poem for friends or family.
You can use a phone to record your performance. You can try performing with a partner.
You can use a phone to record your performance. You can try performing with a partner.
How does it feel to perform your poem?
How does it feel to perform your poem?
Do you feel empowered like Hamilton?
Do you feel empowered like Hamilton?
Explore More
Explore More
Extension Questions:
Extension Questions:
- How do you think “Home” is represented and evoked musically?
- Can you think of other music performances that reference “Home?”
- Hamilton left his home to make a new home in America. How do you think he was feeling? How would you feel?
Additional Links:
Additional Links:
- To learn more about the musical “Hamilton”, click here.
- To learn more about Lin-Manuel Miranda, click here.
- To watch more videos from Lincoln Center at Home clips, click here.
Share:
Share:
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website.
Tell us what you think! Email us at access@lincolncenter.org to share your thoughts on the activities and website.
