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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July 31: JuJu House Visits Horton's Kids

August 17, 2020  /  Mykella Palmer

On Friday, July 31, youth from Horton's Kids summer program enjoyed a workshop with go-go musician and educator, William "Ju Ju" House. This virtual Teach the Beat lesson was organized by Secondary Youth Development Coordinator, Najuma Louison and Teaching for Change. 

Teens joined from mobile devices and home electronics for a distance learning musical experience. Ju Ju House joined from his home studio -- filled with percussion instruments and a large Chuck Brown poster, honoring the go-go legend. The lesson began by diving immediately into the importance of knowing our history. Ju Ju shared with participants, "I'm in a house that was built in 1713!" Urging youth to share their knowledge and experience with go-go music with the group, Ju Ju began to name famous people and groups to gauge the group's familiarity with many popular songs. Students shared their comments via chat feature and through the video/audio platform. 

The virtual visit continued with an in-depth lesson on the difference between the bounce beat and the pocket. Using conga drums and other percussion instruments, House demonstrated the rhythmic qualities of the two beats. In order to test the difference between the two, House encouraged students to name a song in which he applied the different beats. Students shared songs across genres, sometimes humming the melody as Ju Ju played on snare drums from home. 

Students and Ju Ju discussed go-go, rap, the rivalry and influences between the genres. Ju Ju mentioned modern day artists such as Mary J Blige and Beyonce, as he highlighted go-go's reach across many musical generations. It was an afternoon full of laughs, head nods, and immense D.C. pride. One student mentioned that she liked how Ju Ju merged the go-go beat with some of their favorite songs to show the D.C. undertones in mainstream music.

Thank you, Horton's Kids and Ju Ju for a special inaugural virtual lesson, and for bringing the distinctive sound of go-go to students from the safety of their homes.

Teach the Beat Zoom 7.31

Visit description prepared by Rosalie Reyes.

categories / 2020
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