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    content:  Second Semester 2007: Blues Unit Overview, Blues Unit Featured on FOX-13 News,
    Blues Radio Stations, Rock and Soul Museum Field Trip   I   RMS Idol   I   Cultural Kaleidoscope
    Original Music   I   My Vision of the Future   I   TCAP Rap

Second Semester 2007
 
BLUES UNIT: Overview
This integrated unit takes students on a journey through American history as they explore the development of the blues from the Mississippi Delta region at the turn of the eighteenth century, through the Great Migration of the early twentieth century, to Chicago and the advent of the electric blues.

Students discovered the influences of African and European folk music and culture on American roots music through listening examples of the Fisk Jubilee Singers, Son House, and Robert Johnson. They also watched film excerpts that addressed the historical and cultural significance of the blues. The films also included footage and images of early blues musicians, as well as images of the Delta region from the late-eighteenth to early-twentieth century.

Activities included analyzing lyrics and singing exemplary blues selections such as "John the Revelator", "Crossroad Blues", and "I Got My Mojo Working." Students also wrote and performed their own 12-bar blues songs. A 12-bar blues dance was developed to Muddy Waters' classic electric blues, "I Got My Mojo Working" that provided an opportunity for students to experience the 12-bar form.

Blues Unit Featured on FOX-13 News
 
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On February 28th, 2008, RMS
general music students from
Mr. Greene's class were features
in a FOX-13 NEWS segment on
The Blues. Students studied the
evolution of the blues during the
semester.

Throughout the segment, you can
see examples of the original 12-bar blues song activity, the 12-bar blues dance, and review activities covering the history of the blues.
   

top		 Blues Radio Project
The blues radio project was one of the culminating activities at the end of the blues unit. After listening to original broadcast clips from Memphis radio station WDIA, students developed their own radio station programming incorporating content from the blues unit. Click on the play buttons to hear examples of the project.
 

  

  

  
   93.1 FM "Home of the Delta Blues"
   This Blues Radio station was developed by 8th grade students Jamean Hodges, Kevin Myers,
   Kasey Staples, and Chris McCaslin
   936.12 "ABCD Radio" - Segment 1
   This Blues Radio station was developed by 8th grade students Tenea Gordon, Jazzmen Newsom,
   Jabria Melton, Jaylon Walton, and Derick Bobo
   936.12 "ABCD Radio" - Segment 2
   This Blues Radio station was developed by 8th grade students Tenea Gordon, Jazzmen Newsom,
   Jabria Melton, Jaylon Walton, and Derick Bobo
 
CLICK HERE to view the lesson plans for this activity (from the Memphis Rock and Soul Educator's Guide). Mr. Greene was a contributing curriculum writer to the guide.







 
 
Memphis Rock and Soul Museum
Students visited the Memphis Rock and Soul Museum where they enjoyed a walking tour
of the museum's chronologically-arranged exhibits and collection of artifacts. The following
statement from the museum's web site accurately summarizes the experience:
"Created by the Smithsonian Institution, the exhibition of the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum offers a historical and educational exploration of the origins of rock and soul music, of the musical legends who overcame racial and socio-economic barriers to create America’s music, and of its influence on world culture."    
 

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RMS Idol
 Take a look at a sample of this fun and engaging 6th grade general music project.

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Unit Overview
 Students composed an original
score for their Idol production using
a rhythmic ostinato on the drums
and chant. The electronic instrumental piece was written on the computer with composition software. "Auditions" combined singing and dancing performances in front of the class. Nearly every student in the class signed up to audition!

LESSON EXTENSION: "Contestants" perform in front of a student audience. Audience members votes for their favorite performers. Students may chose to be the voting committee and apply their MATH skills to determin the percentage of total votes each performer receives. A pie chart or graph can be created and displayed in the class showing the overall voting percentages.

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  Cultural Kaleidoscope
 The Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Memphis City Schools developed
this integrated unit that culminated with a concert at the Cannon Center
for the Performing Arts. The videos below are biography projects researched
and developed by students during the unit. The project included elements of
geography, culture, economics, and technology.

 Scott Joplin
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Bright Sheng
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Memphis Symphony
Orchestra Visits RMS
Percussionists from the Memphis Symphony Orchestra visited RMS music students in October of 2007, demonstrating the different instruments they play and leading the students through a poly-rhythmic percussion performance.
Click here to view photos from
the visit.
 Unit Plan
 Click here to view the unit plans
from the MCS Cultural Kaleidoscope Integrated Lessons guide. Mr. Greene was a contributing curriculum writer.

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  Original Music
 Music composed, performed, recorded, and produced by students in grades 6-8

 "We Go To Ridgeway"

  An original Ridgeway Middle School theme written by general
 music teacher Ken Greene for the 2007 Diversity Fair.
 The song features vocals by members of the RMS choir
 and "morning announcements" by Dr. Roderick Richmond.

Songwriting
Lesson Plan
 Click here to view the lesson plans
for this activity from the MCS Cultural
Kaleidoscope Integrated Lessons
guide.

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  My Vision of the Future
 An integrated unit incorporating elements of music, technology, visual art,
and language arts
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  TCAP Rap
 Students from Mr. Greene's 4th period class composed, arranged, and recorded this rap about the TCAP test just days before the test implemented. Clarence brought the rap, Whitney and Brionna gave us the dancing, and the drum groove was created from an improvised rhythm.
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font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000">Music composed, performed, recorded, and produced by students in grades 6-8

"We Go To Ridgeway"

  An original Ridgeway Middle School theme written by general
 music teacher Ken Greene for the 2007 Diversity Fair.
 The song features vocals by members of the RMS choir
 and "morning announcements" by Dr. Roderick Richmond.

Songwriting
Lesson Plan
 Click here to view the lesson plans
for this activity from the MCS Cultural
Kaleidoscope Integrated Lessons
guide.

top

  My Vision of the Future
 An integrated unit incorporating elements of music, technology, visual art,
and language arts
This text will be replaced
  

top

  TCAP Rap
 Students from Mr. Greene's 4th period class composed, arranged, and recorded this rap about the TCAP test just days before the test implemented. Clarence brought the rap, Whitney and Brionna gave us the dancing, and the drum groove was created from an improvised rhythm.
This text will be replaced
  

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