Teach the Beat!

Bringing the distinctive D.C. sound of go-go into the classroom.

Teaching for Change is honored to work with D.C.  area schools and the authors of The Beat! Go-Go Music from Washington, D.C. to develop lessons and share teaching ideas for infusing the history and music of go-go in middle and high school social studies, language arts, math, music, and/or D.C. history classes, and to bring renowned go-go performers into D.C. classrooms.

"Go-go has stayed true to time-honored cultural scripts such as live call-and-response, live instrumentation, as well as its locally rooted fashions, slang, dance, distribution and economic systems. Simply put: Go-Go never sold out. There is a grit and texture to the music that gives voice to the communities where it was created." –Natalie Hopkinson

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February 9: Sweet Cherie at Simon ES

February 09, 2023  /  Allison Acosta

 

“Thanks for coming to my birthday party!” — Stephanie Howell

All Teach the Beat visits are special, but serenading a beloved teacher with a go-go version of the birthday song only compounds the joy! Stephanie Howell, a native Washingtonian whose parents met at a Chuck Brown show in 1972 also happened to be celebrating a birthday the day Sweet Cherie facilitated a visit with K-3rd grade students at Simon ES (DCPS).

In addition to learning about the history and fundamentals of go-go, each child got a chance to play an improvised tune on Sweet Cherie’s bedazzled keyboard. They danced when they heard their names called by the talker, just like at a go-go.

The students surprised Cherie by already having a response to when she asks, “Wh- wh- wh- where you from?!” to which they shouted, “D.C.!”

 
categories / 2023
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