Dec 14: Sweet Cherie at Carlos Rosario PCS

It doesn’t matter how many Teach the Beat visits happen, each one has its own unique flavor. The visits Sweet Cherie led at Carlos Rosario for Arts Integration & Culture Program Manager Tim Gibbon were to groups of adult learners — many of whom had never heard of go-go. The school auditorium was part concert and part classroom as Sweet Cherie talked about and demonstrated the elements of go-go and even provided the dictionary definition of go-go. She mentioned how vast and deep go-go’s influence is in other genres of music, and how many subgenres of go-go have developed by other musical stylings’ influence.

Showing their appreciation for Cherie and go-go in general, one student shouted “Long live go-go!” towards the end of the visit.

Gibbon shared: 

Today was such a joy! And joy is the best way to learn, without a doubt. I keep thinking about how almost none of the students were familiar with go-go until today. . . . What a gift you brought to our school.

December 2 and 9: Sweet Cherie at Coolidge HS

Beth Sewell welcomed Teach the Beat back this year for two visits — this time in person instead of virtual! The classroom was brimming with excited energy. Sewell prepared students extensively for the visits with engaging lessons and activities to help them learn more about go-go’s history and culture. No stranger to collaborating with Teaching for Change, Sewell has participated in meetings for our working groups and hosted classroom visits for FilmFest DC. 

One teacher, Ms. Vanessa, stopped by because she heard the music as she was walking through the hallway. While there, Vanessa shared that she used to teach Little Benny when she taught at Ballou. One day years ago, he asked to be dismissed early from her class so he could go to his music rehearsal and luckily she gave him permission to leave. Not too long after that, she heard his name on the radio while playing with Rare Essence!

The visits to Coolidge were impactful for everyone, including Sweet Cherie, a native Washingtonian. She grew up around Petworth and Brightwood, and her parents went to Coolidge HS. She knew the music program teacher who has taught at Coolidge for decades, and we took time to explore how much has changed at the school over the years.

Sewell shared:

It was so much fun and really helped our newcomers to the U.S. understand go-go and its history.  Thanks for your work around preserving the culture.

December 2 and 9: Sweet Cherie at Ida B. Wells MS

Nobody sits down at the go-go! — Sweet Cherie

Alison Rice and her advisory welcomed us back to Ida B. Wells MS for a series of visits. Sweet Cherie guided everyone through the basics, as she usually does. Timid at first, the group couldn’t help but respond to Sweet Cherie’s call to dance to the infectious music she was so effortlessly playing on her keyboard. Students also showcased their musical talents — Cherie let them play her keyboard. 

Rice shared:

Ms. Sweet Cherie was excellent! Her experience in the go-go scene was amazing. She even had all of us up and learning how to Beat our Feet!

October 20: Uncle Devin at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School

On October 20, 2022, the cafeteria at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School (DCPS) was bumpin’ for back-to-back classroom visits with Uncle Devin and his partner in rhyme, Auntie Lolita for Michelle Vander-Ploeg’s and Nikki Roberson’s third grade classes!

After hooking students with his show’s theme song, Uncle Devin instructed students in some of the fundamentals of go-go percussion, taught them how to do the Hambone, and introduced them to a go-go version of the kids’ song “Rum Sum Sum”. Students even got some hands-on experience playing percussive instruments on stage with Uncle Devin! 

Roberson commented:

Uncle Devin was awesome! The students really enjoyed learning about go-go music, especially dancing and trying the instruments. They have been talking about shake, scrape, and strike all week!

June 3: Uncle Devin at Wheatley EC

“Uncle Devin'' headed up a series of classroom visits with kindergarteners and third graders in the music room at Wheatley Education Campus. Coincidentally, “Uncle Devin'' facilitated a program with students and educators at Wheatley just the week before this series, so a few students got a double dose of “The Children’s Drumcussionist!” After teaching them the “three ‘S’ superheroes” of percussion — shake, scrape, and strike — “Uncle Devin” led them in beatmaking and call-and-response with a djembe. They wrapped up the visits with a well-loved song and dance, “Rum Sum Sum.” 

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One teacher shared:

The experience was very engaging and students enjoyed being able to participate using their various learning styles.

June 1 and June 2: Sweet Cherie at H.D. Cooke ES

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The hallways of H.D. Cooke were vibrating with the sounds of go-go during “Sweet Cherie’s” visits with the kindergarten department.

After standing in lines and sitting still all morning for picture day, students got to participate in their own kiddie go-go — and the adults joined them! During these lessons, “Sweet Cherie” guided the students in the basic elements of go-go music and a go-go. “Sweet Cherie” also taught the students how to do the “Lock It” line dance to Rare Essence’s song of the same name.

To show their appreciation, the classes gifted “Sweet Cherie” a “Love D.C. Go-Go” t-shirt and a mountain of homemade thank you cards by the students themselves.

Watch the music video for “Lock It”

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One teacher shared,

What an amazing experience!!! Teach the Beat was so fun and informative for the students and staff alike. Not only is Sweet Cherie an incredibly talented musician, she is also a very skilled educator, adjusting her language and music to suit and engage her young audience.  Because she did such a great job at making the information and music accessible to our young students, they walked away with a great foundation for understanding and appreciating go-go music!! 

May 18: Ju Ju House at Seaton ES

Ms. Athena Kopsidas’ art room at Seaton ES was rockin’ with the sound of the pocket and bounce beats, led by none other than Teach the Beat co-founding teaching artist William “Ju Ju” House. The third graders were on the edge of their seats, excited to form their four-part bands and demonstrate what they’d learned about the fundamentals of go-go. Providing individual attention to every student while also encouraging cohesion and group harmony are teaching practices Ju Ju is gifted with, and he did so beautifully during this powerful visit!

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Kopsidas shared:

Music connects us in so many ways; Ju Ju brought so much joy while challenging students to work together and try new things.

April 29: Ju Ju House at E.L. Haynes PCS

The seniors in Mrs. Barrie Moorman’s D.C. History class had an Experience Unlimited with their two Teach the Beat sessions with William “Ju Ju” House. While the students started off somewhat timidly during the first session, they were proudly and confidently demonstrating their mastery of the pocket and bounce beat to all of their classmates. 

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Moorman shared:

It was amazing! Ju Ju was so wonderful and the chance for all students to play and have fun was great. I really appreciated this visit. It helps bring to life a topic we've talked about in class. It helps bring joy and a sense of personal connection to DC History, which is important to me.

We were so happy to host legendary drummer Ju Ju House @ELHaynesPCS thanks to @teachingchange and the Teach the Beat program to connect with our DC History class @dcaesj pic.twitter.com/ZszewL4mLf

— Barrie Moorman (@HaynesHistory) May 5, 2022

April 22: Uncle Devin at Bunker Hill ES

Third graders in Ra’Neta Oliver’s class not only celebrated a student’s birthday that Friday morning, they also learned more about and celebrated go-go music with the Children’s Drumcussionist, Teach the Beat teaching artist “Uncle Devin” Walker! Walker led the students in better understanding the different ways of playing a percussive instrument — shake, scrape, and/or strike — and in identifying percussion instruments. As always, Walker encouraged students to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams and concluded the lesson with a go-go birthday song for the student celebrating and another tune, reminding them, “Life is a drum, so beat it!”

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April 4: Sweet Cherie at Hearst ES

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On Monday, April 4th, “Sweet Cherie” Mitchell-Agurs brought the rhythm of go-go to Hearst Elementary School. During her two classroom visits, 3rd graders learned the history of go-go, listened to go-go renditions of famous songs, and sang and danced with Sweet Cherie. One student was excited to share what the class had learned about the “Godfather of Go-Go” Chuck Brown. Enthusiasm grew as “Sweet Cherie” talked about her time playing with Chuck Brown and introduced the class to his take on Duke Ellington in “Take the Go-Go Train.” Students had a blast turning the classroom into their own go-go, where they used syncopation to create a song, showed off their moves in a dance circle, and engaged in the call-and-response. One student beamed, 

This was the best ELA ever!

Teacher Hannah Halpern reflected: 

​​THANK YOU, Teach the Beat, for organizing — the kids loved it!

March 22 and March 24: Sweet Cherie at Center City PCS Petworth

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“Sweet Cherie” Mitchell-Agurs shut down the cafeteria for Ms. Jordan’s middle school dance classes at Center City PCS Petworth during visits the week of March 21st. Before the visits even began, “Sweet Cherie” captured the hearts of educators at the school, specifically long-time Be’la Dona fan Ms. James, who snapped a picture with her before she was able to welcome Jordan’s 6th-grade dance class students. “Bela’ Dona is my FAVORITE band, y’all!”

When “Sweet Cherie” returned to visit with Jordan’s 8th-grade dance class later that week, she blew away a new group of students through her lesson. Students were introduced to history on the origins of go-go, a breakdown of the elements of go-go’s sound, and the different roles of a go-go function, as well as a performance of some iconic go-go songs.

By the end of the sessions, students were just as captivated by “Sweet Cherie” as her adult fans were, asking for her autograph, invites to upcoming shows, and a request to perform at their 8th-grade graduation! One student noted that their class visit was so fun and engaging, 

It felt like [he] was at a cookout with all [his] favorite aunties.

Jordan also noted:

Sweet Cherie was amazing — very engaging and energetic! The eighth-graders enjoyed her so much they asked if she could perform at their graduation/promotion in June.

Jan 19 and Jan 27: Sweet Cherie at Malcolm X Elementary School

The drum is the heartbeat of go-go. Just like your heart keeps you alive, the drum beat keeps go-go alive.

~Sweet Cherie

The music room at Malcolm X Elementary School (DCPS) was alive with the sound of go-go, facilitated by founding Teach the Beat teaching artist Sweet Cherie! Nearly 50 students learned the fundamentals of go-go music during her two visits in January, culminating in a kiddie go-go for the second through fourth graders. One student soloed “Mr. Magic” on the keyboard and a few played along with Sweet Cherie as she introduced the class to Chuck Brown’s take on a Duke Ellington classic, “Go-Go Swing Live.” 

Music teacher Udoh Opiotennione reflected: 

We really enjoyed the presentation. Mrs. Mitchell was very engaging and informative. We learned that this is OUR music to celebrate.