BLACK AMERICAN MUSIC AND INFLUENCE
Lesson 5
Teaching Artist: Dave Adewumi
This is the fifth lesson from the grades 2-5 Jazz and the World of Black American Music Course. Students will explore Black American music and its characteristics, including rhythmic frameworks. Then students will create a funk rhythm using their hands, body percussion, or adaptive instruments.
SUMMARY
Identify the stylistic characteristics of Black American music.
Compare different musical styles within the Black tradition.
Demonstrate the funk rhythm and play along with recordings.
OBJECTIVE
MATERIALS
EXPLORE
Display Google Slides: Black American Music and Influence. Introduce students to Jazz music by watching a segment from the video Black American Music and Influence. Ask students: Have you ever heard this kind of music? What do you know about this type of music?
Play the video How to Play a Funk Groove. Then use the following videos to explore the funk rhythm:
LEARN
Ask students to compare and contrast the Kool and the Gang and Roy Hargrove recordings. Ask students: What do you notice about the style and rhythm? What similarities or differences do you notice between the two songs?
Demonstrate the rhythmic foundation of the music in the recordings by clapping along to the beat. Model the rhythm’s 4 beat cycles.
Replay the video How to Play a Funk Groove to learn a funk groove. Use body percussion and clapping to follow these rhythmic patterns.
PERFORM+SHARE
Perform the funk rhythm individually or in groups with one of the song selections:
Share and perform a funk rhythm of a song from this lesson on S’Cool Sounds Padlet.