Feb 10: Swamp Guinee at Seaton ES

Athena Kopsidas welcomed Teach the Beat back, this time for a series of visits where all students were able to participate in an assembly-style visit. These visits were scheduled in conjunction with the D.C. area’s Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action 2023. Kospidas attended the DCAESJ planning meeting in January of this year, and she noted that this was one of the ways Seaton was participating in the Week of Action this year. During a session with the upper elementary classes, students shared with deputy director, Keesha Ceran, what the week – Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action – meant and why we celebrate it. One student stated, “This week we celebrate school spirit and Black Lives matter.”

Meeting in the school’s cafeteria, Matt “Swamp Guinee” Miller facilitated the two visits with students through interactive lessons on different percussive instruments used in go-go. After sharing a brief history of go-go music, Miller introduced the school to his “friends” – musical instruments -  and students guessed if you should shake, scrape, or strike the instrument. As students became acclimated to the different instruments, Miller taught students a few beats that they practiced at the cafeteria tables before the Seaton Elementary School Hot Fire Bees go-go groups performed on stage with Miller. Students and staff alike created the go-go beats they had learned. The rhythmic sounds transformed Seaton’s cafeteria into its own go-go with students and adults beating their feet. 

At the conclusion of their last session, Miller gifted the school one of his drums, thanking Seaton educators for their great efforts in educating the students and the high energy the students brought to these sessions. 

Kopsidas shared: 

Everything was great! We have a number of students who are non-verbal and who participated fully, on stage! They were so enthusiastic and engaged!

Read about last year’s visit at Seaton ES