Black History Month

Last week, this week and next we are emphasizing the blues, particularly in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades. In the lower grades we have been learning some African songs and games. All of this is intended to help make the kids aware of the tremendous contribution African Americans have made to popular music.

Here's a video I particularly like of Howlin' Wolf performing a 12 bar blues "How Man More Years" (and providing a salty definition of what the blues is.) Students -- how man elements of 12 bar blues form can you identify? (and third graders -- how does it compare with your awesome performance of "Mannish Boy" this afternoon?"