Objective:
Students will write an original song that reflects his/her blues.
Procedure:
Students will listen to recordings of and sing spirituals and protest songs. Students will be placed in groups of four, where they will examine the lyrics of songs presented. Students will discuss issues that give them the blues such as homework, community violence, responsibility for younger siblings, peer pressure, etc.
Students may use an original composition or may adapt one of the aforementioned songs to reflect their blues. There should be at least four stanzas in each song which will afford each member of the group the opportunity to express herself. Each group will perform their spiritual or protest song for the class.
Example:
Oh Freedom
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Oh Perseverance
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Oh freedom,
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Oh perseverance,
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Oh freedom,
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Oh perseverance,
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Oh freedom over me.
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Oh perseverance over me.
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And before I’ll be a slave
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And before I’d fail this grade,
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I’d be buried in my grave
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On this book my eyes are laid
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And go home, to my Lord, and be free.
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Study hard, and I’ll get, at least a “B”.
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