Grade Level: PreK-5th
Duration: 30 minutes
Subject: Music, Cultural Studies

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Lesson Overview

This lesson introduces students to the blues, a musical style that deeply influenced New Orleans jazz. Through listening, call-and-response singing, and creative activities, students will explore the emotional power of the blues and its role in shaping jazz culture.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Understand the origins and emotional themes of the blues.

2. Explore how the blues influenced New Orleans jazz.

3. Create their own blues-inspired rhythms or lyrics.

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Materials Needed

• Audio recordings of blues and jazz music.

• Lyrics or sheet music for a simple blues song (e.g., “St. Louis Blues”).

• Optional: Percussion instruments or homemade instruments (e.g., buckets, shakers).

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Lesson Steps

Introduction to the Blues (5 minutes)

• Explain the origins of the blues:

  • The blues began in the Mississippi Delta, inspired by the work songs and spirituals of African Americans.

  • It tells stories of emotion, struggle, and resilience.

• Share that the blues influenced New Orleans jazz, bringing expressive melodies and “blue notes” (bent or flattened notes) into the music.

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Listen and Feel the Blues (5 minutes)

• Play a recording of a classic blues song.

• Ask students:

  • How does the music make you feel?

  • What instruments do you hear?

• Point out the structure of the blues, often built on a 12-bar chord progression, and its use of call-and-response singing.

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Sing and Play the Blues (10 minutes)

• Teach a simple blues song:

  • Example lyrics:
    I woke up this morning, didn’t know what to do,
    I woke up this morning, didn’t know what to do,
    But then I found the music, and it brought me through.

• Lead a call-and-response activity:

  • Leader sings a line, and the group responds with a repeated phrase or echo.

• Add clapping or percussion to keep the rhythm steady.

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Create Your Own Blues (10 minutes)

• Encourage students to write their own blues-inspired lyrics:

  • Prompt: Think of a small problem you faced and how you solved it.

  • Example: “My toy broke this morning, I was feeling so blue… but I fixed it with tape, now it’s good as new!”

• Let students take turns performing their lyrics with the group providing the response.

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Group Reflection and Cool Down (5 minutes)

• Ask students:

  • How did it feel to sing and create your own blues?

  • Why do you think the blues is such an emotional and powerful style of music?

• Discuss how the blues helps tell stories and express feelings through music.

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Extension Activities

• Music Exploration: Listen to blues-inspired jazz songs and identify the “blue notes.”

• Art Connection: Have students draw pictures inspired by the emotions in a blues song.

• History Connection: Explore the lives of blues legends like Bessie Smith or W.C. Handy and their contributions to music.

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Reflection Questions

• What story did you try to tell in your blues song?

• How does singing or playing the blues make you feel?

• Can you think of other styles of music that tell stories like the blues?

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Teacher/Parent Tips

• Encourage students to be creative and expressive, even if their lyrics or rhythms are simple.

• Reinforce that the blues is about emotion and storytelling, not perfection.

• Use audio examples to help students connect with the sound and feel of the blues.