May 17: Go-Go Mickey Visits Shepherd ES

On May 17, 2021, Milton “Go-Go Mickey” Freeman facilitated his first Teach the Beat classroom visit, engaging the first grade students of Zuri Saxon’s class at Shepherd ES (DCPS) in a lesson on the elements of percussion, and teaching them a short sequence of Chuck Brown’s Bustin Loose. 

To prepare for the visit, the students researched go-go during Black History Month and listened to go-go music as part of their learning. 

The students were in awe when Go-Go Mickey shared a little bit about his story and that he had been playing go-go for over 40 years. In unison the “wows” echoed through the classroom. 

After learning that the song they had been learning to play was by Chuck Brown, one student was excited to share that her brother had created a video on Chuck Brown.

Throughout the visit, students learned a percussion beat on Go-Go Mickey’s congos, played the tambourines, and learned to keep time. Each child participated as a part of the go-go band with Go-Go Mickey bringing it all together.