Freedom Song Classroom Connections Teacher Resources by K. Strong Music and Lyrics by Various Writers and Composers In the Classroom For Teachers & Students Grades 3-12 Freedom Song and the Classroom Connections Study Guide are produced in support of the teaching of: the Language Arts, History, and Music. The following Virginia Standards of Learning are supported: Social studies: 3.12, USI.1, USII.1, USII.9, VUS.2, VUS.3, VUS.7, VUS8, VUS.9, VUS.10 English: 3.1, 3.6, 4.2, 4.5, 5.1, 5.6, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 7.2, 7.3, 7.5, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 9.1, 9.5, 10.5, 10.6, 11.5, 11.6, 12.5. At the Library African American Musicians (Black Stars) by Eleanora E. Tate Be a Friend: The Story of African American Music in Song, Words, and Pictures by Leotha Stanley, illustrated by Henry Hawkins Freedom Song: Young Voices and the Struggle for Civil Rights by Mary C. Turck On the Web Carnegie Hall: Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy http://www.carnegiehall.org/honor/ Public Broadcast Service: African American World http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld In Freedom Song, your students will embark on a musical journey through African American history. From slave spirituals and hymns to minstrel music, from ragtime to blues, and from jazz to rap, African American music has reflected the feelings and soul of a people who have suffered, triumphed, grown, and changed. Throughout American history, music reflects our American society. African American music adds to that an insight into their tumultuous and changing place within it. It reflects the emotions of the musicians - joy, sorrow, love, and pain; music is, and always has been, a glimpse into the soul of a people. For hundreds of years, African Americans have expressed what they feel in their music in this country and have had an enormous influence on everybody. There is no end to the African American contribution to America s music, and to the world s. It is so important for us to keep our culture alive and be proud. Look at all that has sprung from the past. Just see how much we ve done. Think of all we have to look for in our futures!
African American Milestones Review the following timeline of African American milestones. There are some events missing! Place the events from the box at the bottom of the page into the timeline in chronological order. Use the space on the right of the timeline to add the missing events! 1758 - Slaves on William Byrd III s plantation in Lunenburg County form the earliest Black church in Virginia. 1800 - Gabriel Prosser, a Virginia slave, is betrayed in his plot to lead thousands of slaves in an attack on Richmond, VA. Dozens of slaves are imprisoned or hanged on the spot. Gabriel himself is publicly hanged. 1912 - The first in a series of annual black symphony orchestra concerts was performed at Carnegie Hall. 1921 - The doctor of philosophy degree is awarded for the first time to Black women, Sadie T. Mossell, Eva B. Dykes, and Georgiana R. Simpson. 2005 - Condoleezza Rice is sworn in as Secretary of State. 1990 - The first elected African American Governor, Douglas Wilder, is inaugurated in Virginia. 2008, November 4 th. Barrack Obama is elected 44 th President of the United States and first African American president. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is founded. President Ronald Reagan signs bill establishing January 20 a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment which, on ratification, abolishes slavery in the U.S. Maynard Jackson is elected first black mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. United Negro College Fund is established. 2 Set the Stage for Learning Theatre IV, Richmond, VA
Musical Words Use what you learned while watching Freedom Song to match the following words and descriptions. Work with a partner, and use a dictionary to help. Ragtime Blues Jazz Swing Gospel Rhythm Harmony Soul The combination of musical notes played together as chords. Popular in the early 1900 s, this music was created and performed by Black artists and expressed the moods and feeling that were related to by the Black American audience. Modern version of slave spiritual music, sung in churches. Popular during the Harlem Renaissance, this type of music had unusual rhythms, chords, tempos, tones and mood. Style of music that became popular in the late 1800 s - combined traditional African American music with ragged rhythms. A type of music that grew from Jazz, but had a freer feel and a happier sound, which was just what was needed for the post-depression and beginning World War II days. A flow of rising and falling sounds in language that is produced in verse by a regular repeating of stressed and unstressed syllables. Music that originated in black American gospel singing, is closely related to rhythm and blues, and is characterized by intensity of feeling. Challenge: Toni Morrison, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Beyonce Knowles are all contemporary and famous African American women mentioned in the play. Which one is not a musician, and what is she known for? Set the Stage for Learning Theatre IV, Richmond, VA 3
Genre Comparison Compare three of the following musical genres discussed in Freedom Song: jazz, gospel, blues, ragtime, swing, rap, hip hop. Listen to examples of each genre, and use the graphic organizer below to record your comparisons. Come on now sugar. You got to make your own happiness some kind of way in this ol world, and when you sing, watch that happiness a-comin. These are our songs, from our people. That s really something. Be proud child. ~ Freedom Song 4 Set the Stage for Learning Theatre IV, Richmond, VA
Lyrics & Rhyme Definition: rhyme (noun): a repetition of similar sounds in two or more different words; most often used in poetry. Many songs contain words that rhyme. Read the blues song from Freedom Song. Use different colored pencils to circle the pairs of words that rhyme. I m so forlorn Life s just a thorn My heart is torn Why was I born What did I do To be so black & blue African Americans have expressed their feelings through music for hundreds of years. Use the speech bubble below to write a song about your feelings. Be sure to use rhyming words! A Resource to Use: www.wordcentral.com Click Rhyming Set the Stage for Learning Theatre IV, Richmond, VA 5
Cues at the Theatre 114 West Broad St. Richmond, VA 23220 1.800.235.8687 www.theatreiv.org Theatre IV Presents... Freedom Song by K. Strong Music and Lyrics by Various Writers and Composers Theatre IV... Bruce C. Miller, Artistic Director Phil Whiteway, Managing Director Classroom Connections Study Guide written by Heather Widener, MAT Widener Consulting LLC This Classroom Connections Study Guide and the text contained herein are the property of Theatre IV. Photocopying of the study guide is permitted. Any other use of the contents must be accompanied by the phrase, Text used with permission from Theatre IV - Richmond, VA. Theatre IV, 2012. Words to Know Playwright: (n.) a person who writes a play Play: (n.) a story acted out with dialogue Adapted: (v.) changed to fit a new use or situation Musical: (n.) a play that includes songs Dialogue: (n.) words spoken by the characters in a play Lyrics: (n.) words of a song Using the list above, fill in the word: A that uses music is called a. Actors in a play speak words called and sing of a song. The person who writes a play is called a. Often, a play is from another source. Set the Stage for Learning Theatre IV, Richmond, VA 6