Title – History of African-American Music

By – Victoria Landry

Primary Subject – Music

Secondary Subjects – Social Studies

Grade Level – PK-8

Objective: African-American music history awareness

History: Students will be made aware of African-American music history from the slave work song through modern rap and hip-hop. Students will also be made aware of significant musical figures from several styles. Dates range from c.1619 through 2005.

Selections:

1. Work Song – “Pickin’ Cotton All Day Long”

2. Spiritual – “Come By Here”

3. Blues – “Nobody Loves Me, But My Mother” (B. B. King)

4. Jazz – “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me”

5. Rhythm and Blues – “Let the Good Times Roll (Ray Charles)

*6. Funk/Soul – “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” (James Brown)

*7. Hip Hop (early) – “Hip Hop Be Bop”

*8. Rap/Hip Hop (contemporary) – “God Gave Me Style” (50 Cent)**

Assessment: Students will be asked questions with each selection. Questions will be in regard to personal preferences of students and their ability to recognize the common threads in African-American music history.

*The students REALLY love to get up and dance! I waited until the Funk/Soul era onward to allow dancing just so they wouldn’t get TOO excited too early in the lesson.

**These songs are just suggestions; you may find your own to represent each style of music if you wish. I was able to download all of these from iTunes for $.99 per song.

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Victoria Landry

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