As part of the fifth grade social studies curriculum, the students learn about the Westward Expansion period of American History and later move into a study of American Government and a study of civil liberties. Jeff Newell, with The New Trad Octet, teaches the students about a few influential musicians throughout American History, making connections to how the historical contexts of these musicians impacted their lives and their music. Through his residency focusing on a few selected artists, he is able to draw out the connections between the artists’ lives and music and issues surrounding Westward Expansion, slavery, and assimilation.
The diddley bow is a fun project which allows groups of students to make their own basic instrument, as they learn that Robert Johnson made a similar instrument, using the side of his house to tether his strings to. One thing that we are trying this year for the first time is allowing the students more class time with Jeff to learn how to play the diddley bow and use it in the creation of their songs. The students enjoy seeing the artists come in to play music during some of Jeff’s sessions, and the students always get excited about decorating a diddley bow and having the opportunity to play some music themselves. We’ve already had students arguing about who gets to take the diddley bows home at end of the residency, even though they just made them.
For more detail about the fifth grade residency with the New Trad Octet, read an interview with founder Jeff Newell.