Music Then and Now: Using Technology to Build a Lyric Animation Module

Abstract

This article describes a student group project (Music for Econ) which synthesizes music with economics and is a great way to connect with your audience. We trace the journey of Music for Econ from its inception as a Pop-Up video in the early 2000s through to the creation of a Music for Econ library on Critical Commons. Music for Econ is a pedagogical device which can be used to demonstrate the everyday application of economics and help unlock student creativity. Consequently, we provide the instructor with a do it yourself (DIY) manual, which shows them how to set up the project, customize it depending on the size of their class, and how to avoid common pitfalls. We also include an end of project survey template for reference and future use in an appendix. More broadly, Music for Econ is simply fun to watch if you like music and enjoy leaning about economics. JEL Classifications: A20, A21, A22