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4-8 (middle school)
music, music history, creative writing
approximately 3 class periods
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The lyrics in blues songs, the musical forerunner of jazz, often express hardship with an ironic, defiant twist. In this activity students explore examples of this musical form, then write their own lyrics for a blues song.
Begin by having your students read the articles "F. Scott Fitzgerald," "Jazzing It Up," "Duke Ellington," and "Louis Armstrong."
F. Scott Fitzgerald dubbed the 1920s in America "The Jazz Age." The popular jazz music of composers and performers such as Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong was influenced by an earlier musical style called "blues" that began on slave plantations.
To help students generate their background knowledge about jazz and blues music, lead a discussion with questions such as:
- What are some examples of blues songs?
- What makes a song a blues song?
- W.C. Handy, known as "the father of the blues," said, "The blues comes from nothingness, from want, from desire." What do you think he meant by this quote?
- What role does humor play in blues songs?
- If available, play students some recordings of some examples of blues songs from the early 20th century, such as W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" and "Memphis Blues." You may find some blues recordings at your local library. Invite students to share their reactions and observations.
Divide students into small groups and ask them to look online for other examples of blues lyrics. Here is a Web site for them to search on:
Blues Lyrics Online -- Home Page
http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/2541/index.html
- Distribute the worksheet for this activity. As a class, discuss the first section, "What makes a blues song?" Point out that while the blues format is somewhat flexible -- the overall subject matter and tone are often the same. The singer uses the song to express a problem -- such as financial hardship, loneliness, or sorrow.
- Students then work in small groups to write original blues songs. When completed, the songs are performed for classmates and are refined based on their feedback.
Sing the Blues
By studying blues songs written during the early 1900s, you have learned more about this important musical genre that influenced jazz and rock 'n roll. In this activity, you demonstrated your understanding of the blues format by collaborating on an original blues song and submitting it to this Web site. You can also study the lyrics of some blues songs written by other Learning Adventures in Citizenship students.
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Early New York