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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June 8: John "JB" Buchanan at Duke Ellington School of the Arts

June 08, 2016 / Mykella Palmer

Go-go legend Mr. John "JB" Buchanan worked with Mr. Davey Yarborough's students on June 8, 2016 at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts as part of the Teach the Beat program funded by DCPS and coordinated by Teaching for Change. The school was in swing space during renovation at the old Meyer Elementary School. JB began by expressing his respect for the students who take a 7AM class. He explained the origins of go-go and then taught a go-go variation of All Blues by Miles Davis. This video clip shows JB working with the students, followed by their reflections on the visit.

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categories / 2016