Students in 6th grade are working together to learn about music of Africa. With tubanos and other classroom instruments, students perform "Take Time in Life" a Liberian folk song. We will soon begin making kalimbas (aka thumb pianos) using old cigar boxes and other recycled materials. Stay tuned to hear the various pitches that these instruments produce.
Students in 7th grade are focusing on songs with a social message or some form of protest. We have held our first debate in class as to which song--"Behind the Wall" by Tracy Chapman or "A Man's Home is His Castle" by Faith Hill conveyed the message it was trying to get across better. Students listened to the songs, analyzed the text and worked together to convince the other side that their song was a stronger representation of the message of violence. We now are working on the John Lennon classic, "Imagine"