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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September 10: Teebone at Wilson High School

September 10, 2015 / Mykella Palmer

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Timothy “Teebone” David talked about the history of go-go and his own experiences growing up in Washington, DC. He heard the music in everything around him from windshield wipers to the falling rain. He got a set of drums when he was very young. His mother told him that if he did not practice every day, she would take them away. So he threw himself into learning to play, starting with “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” He played the congas for the students, modeling the original Latin beats and showing how they were adapted for go-go and now for the bounce beat. A high school student had the honor of joining him for back-up on the drums.

categories / 2015