Teacher's guidelines and resouces
_The Great Migration, is a 40 to 45 minute program
designed to demonstrate how blues music reflected key elements of
African American history in the United States. Through various
instruments, songs and stories I describe the social conditions that led
up to the Great Migration from the time period of the 20’s up to the
50’s. The origins and development of blues music is also discussed, as
it is my experience that to understand the music of a people leads to a
deeper understanding of their culture and how that culture shaped
American history.
Topics that are covered include the origins of blues music and how that music changed as the musician’s life styles changed. Additionally, I will describe how sharecropping, racism, Jim Crow laws, tenant farming, and severe weather conditions ultimately led to the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural south to the industrial north. All of these subjects, along with invaluable related materials can be located on the following website: In Motion: The African American Migration Experience. Although I will briefly touch on these topics I would recommend that your students be familiar with them beforehand. For more information, visit this page on 'Blues History.' See Additional Resources below.
Finally, I demonstrate how blues music influenced one of the most popular forms of American music - Rock and Roll.
Various songs (listed below) are available for download in a mp3 formats. It is highly recommended that the students listen to these examples prior to my visit.
This program is designed primarily for grades 7 through 12 in either a classroom or auditorium setting. If however a teacher would like to have the class participate in writing and performing workshops, the classroom works best. The program can be done in either one period or several, depending on how in depth the teacher would like the material presented. In some cases I provide writing workshops where the students are taught to compose their own verses of blues lyrics.
Writing Workshop:
Prior to my arrival it is essential that you have the students listen to 'Dust My Broom.' This can be downloaded from the link below. Afterwards you'll need to teach them the AAB structure of the blues verse... i.e. 'Dust My Broom.'
Here's an example of the AAB verse structure in 'Dust My Broom.' A)I’m getting up soon in the morning, I believe I’ll dust my broom
A) I’m getting up soon in the morning, I believe I’ll dust my broom
B) I”m with the best gal I’m lovin’, now my friends can get my room
A) I don’t want no woman, want every downtown man she meets
A) I don’t want no woman, want every downtown man she meets
B) She’s a no good phony, all out on the streets
This will be the style of blues writing that we'll be having your students do during the workshop.
You'll also need to have the following materials on hand for my arrival: magic markers, large poster sized papers, scotch tape and a music stand. Finally, I'd like you to encourage any of your students that play instruments to bring them in that day. I'll be teaching them how to play the blues with me!!!
The program consists of 3 segments, each one period long. During the first segment I'll give a blues concert to the students which will introduce them to this style of music. In the next segment you’ll divide your students into groups of 4 to 6 students. Each group will be given a topic in which they will write their own blues songs in the AAB structure. They should write a minimum of 4 verses to complete their song. Here are some ideas for topics:
My Computer Crashed Blues
Too Much Homework Blues
I Hate School Lunch
Monday Morning Blues
Boyfriend or Girlfriend Blues
Then have the students rewrite the lyrics on a very large sheet of paper in huge lettering. During this writing segment I will be teaching the student musicians how to play the blues on their instruments with me. If time allows, I'll also help the remaining students put the finishing touches on their songs.
The final segment will consist of me performing each of the songs that the students wrote, along with my newly formed band (your musical students!!). Each group will be asked to come up in front of the class and sing their song along with me. This can be a real fun part of the show, so please encourage your students to take part.
Writing Workshop Songs For Study (.mp3 format - right click and choose 'Save Image As' to download )
Dust My Broom
Additional Songs For Listening (.mp3 format - right click to download )
Mealtime Call - an example of a field holler
Track Lining Song - a wonderful example of a work song
Son Of A Muleskinner Man - speaks of labor hardships in the south
Additional Resources For Educators
Traveling The Blues Highway: National Geographic by Charles Cobb
The Blues: A PBS Documentary whose website has useful teacher resources
The Blue Highway
Topics that are covered include the origins of blues music and how that music changed as the musician’s life styles changed. Additionally, I will describe how sharecropping, racism, Jim Crow laws, tenant farming, and severe weather conditions ultimately led to the Great Migration of African Americans from the rural south to the industrial north. All of these subjects, along with invaluable related materials can be located on the following website: In Motion: The African American Migration Experience. Although I will briefly touch on these topics I would recommend that your students be familiar with them beforehand. For more information, visit this page on 'Blues History.' See Additional Resources below.
Finally, I demonstrate how blues music influenced one of the most popular forms of American music - Rock and Roll.
Various songs (listed below) are available for download in a mp3 formats. It is highly recommended that the students listen to these examples prior to my visit.
This program is designed primarily for grades 7 through 12 in either a classroom or auditorium setting. If however a teacher would like to have the class participate in writing and performing workshops, the classroom works best. The program can be done in either one period or several, depending on how in depth the teacher would like the material presented. In some cases I provide writing workshops where the students are taught to compose their own verses of blues lyrics.
Writing Workshop:
Prior to my arrival it is essential that you have the students listen to 'Dust My Broom.' This can be downloaded from the link below. Afterwards you'll need to teach them the AAB structure of the blues verse... i.e. 'Dust My Broom.'
Here's an example of the AAB verse structure in 'Dust My Broom.' A)I’m getting up soon in the morning, I believe I’ll dust my broom
A) I’m getting up soon in the morning, I believe I’ll dust my broom
B) I”m with the best gal I’m lovin’, now my friends can get my room
A) I don’t want no woman, want every downtown man she meets
A) I don’t want no woman, want every downtown man she meets
B) She’s a no good phony, all out on the streets
This will be the style of blues writing that we'll be having your students do during the workshop.
You'll also need to have the following materials on hand for my arrival: magic markers, large poster sized papers, scotch tape and a music stand. Finally, I'd like you to encourage any of your students that play instruments to bring them in that day. I'll be teaching them how to play the blues with me!!!
The program consists of 3 segments, each one period long. During the first segment I'll give a blues concert to the students which will introduce them to this style of music. In the next segment you’ll divide your students into groups of 4 to 6 students. Each group will be given a topic in which they will write their own blues songs in the AAB structure. They should write a minimum of 4 verses to complete their song. Here are some ideas for topics:
My Computer Crashed Blues
Too Much Homework Blues
I Hate School Lunch
Monday Morning Blues
Boyfriend or Girlfriend Blues
Then have the students rewrite the lyrics on a very large sheet of paper in huge lettering. During this writing segment I will be teaching the student musicians how to play the blues on their instruments with me. If time allows, I'll also help the remaining students put the finishing touches on their songs.
The final segment will consist of me performing each of the songs that the students wrote, along with my newly formed band (your musical students!!). Each group will be asked to come up in front of the class and sing their song along with me. This can be a real fun part of the show, so please encourage your students to take part.
Writing Workshop Songs For Study (.mp3 format - right click and choose 'Save Image As' to download )
Dust My Broom
Additional Songs For Listening (.mp3 format - right click to download )
Mealtime Call - an example of a field holler
Track Lining Song - a wonderful example of a work song
Son Of A Muleskinner Man - speaks of labor hardships in the south
Additional Resources For Educators
Traveling The Blues Highway: National Geographic by Charles Cobb
The Blues: A PBS Documentary whose website has useful teacher resources
The Blue Highway
