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 3: Uncle Devin at Wheatley EC

June 08, 2022 / Mykella Palmer

“Uncle Devin'' headed up a series of classroom visits with kindergarteners and third graders in the music room at Wheatley Education Campus. Coincidentally, “Uncle Devin'' facilitated a program with students and educators at Wheatley just the week before this series, so a few students got a double dose of “The Children’s Drumcussionist!” After teaching them the “three ‘S’ superheroes” of percussion — shake, scrape, and strike — “Uncle Devin” led them in beatmaking and call-and-response with a djembe. They wrapped up the visits with a well-loved song and dance, “Rum Sum Sum.”

One teacher shared:

The experience was very engaging and students enjoyed being able to participate using their various learning styles.

categories / 2022