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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Oct 22: Sweet Cherie Mitchell and Go Go Mickey at School Within a School @Goding

October 22, 2021 / Mykella Palmer

In this visit we saw the merging of Teach the Beat and our teacher working group! While Sweet Cherie Mitchell was scheduled to lead NaVonda Marshall’s kindergarten class, elementary working group leader Raphael Bonhomme overheard the music and brought his 3rd grade class for a portion of the visit. It was a reunion of sorts because Mitchell led a Teach the Beat classroom visit for Bonhomme during his first year teaching! Kindergartners and 3rd graders alike enjoyed their time with Mitchell that afternoon.

Marshall reflected:

The overall experience was amazing! We learned some history about go-go and I loved learning about the musical parts of go-go.

categories / 2021