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Explore the relationship between music, history, and culture.
Prepare for class by developing a playlist of five essential songs that would form the soundtrack for a road trip across the United States. Have one of these songs playing as students come in and get settled for class. Explain that the song would be required listening for you should you embark on a cross-country road trip and then give details about the song's significance to you, emphasizing its connection to your American identity. Share the rest of your playlist and allow students to react.
Next, divide students into small groups that are as diverse as possible. Ask group members to negotiate with one another to develop a group playlist of five songs that they would play on a road trip across America. You may wish to have groups use online music sites to sample songs that aren't familiar to everyone. Afterwards, discuss what criteria each group used to choose their songs. What kind of an image of America did these songs convey? What songs or musical genres did the groups have in common with one other? Discuss how music can be a transmitter of cultural tradition and a way to connect diverse groups of people.
Finally, have students contribute their playlists to Question 3 of the E Pluribus Unum interactive feature.
Additional Resources
Jeff Chang: A Hip-Hop America
Read Chang's review of hip hop origins and the genre's cultural significance.
NewMusicBox Magazine: The Role of Music in American Life
This Web magazine from the American Music Center features a collection of quotes from American presidents about music, composers, and more.
Related Standards
Music, Standard 7: Understands the relationship between music and history and culture.
U.S. History, Standard 31: Understands economic, social, and cultural developments in the contemporary United States.
Source: "Content Knowledge" by McRel (Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning)
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