Overview

Grades: 9-12

ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO brings together guitar legends from blues, country, rock, and pop music in the blues capital, Chicago, in a salute to this American musical tradition.

Time Allotment:
Approximately two 45-minute class periods

Subject Matter:
Music, History, and Language Arts

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Students will:

1. Brainstorm as a group and record what they know about blues music.

2. Research information about the blues and its origins.

3. View excerpts of various blues performances and compare and contrast them in
terms of style and artistry.

4. Discuss or write about how the blues has influenced modern music and how
the electric guitar and guitarists have changed the sound of the blues over time.

Materials:
A copy of GREAT PERFORMANCES’ ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO

Prep for Teachers:
Prior to teaching the lesson, record the broadcast of ERIC CLAPTON CROSSROADS GUITAR FESTIVAL CHICAGO (check local listings to determine if and when the program will air in your state), review the program for content, bookmark the Web sites used in the lesson on each computer, and download the necessary plug-ins. Print out and make copies of the related handouts: “What Is the Blues?” essay, “Chicago Blues” essay, “Guitar Evolution” essay, and the Viewing Guide.

Bookmark the following sites:

PBS.org: THE BLUES: Blues Classroom: Background Essays: What Is the Blues?
http://www.pbs.org/theblues/classroom/essaysblues.html

PBS.org: THE BLUES: Blues Road Trip: Chicago and Detroit: History and Highlights
http://www.pbs.org/theblues/roadtrip/chi-dethist.html

Grove Music Online
http://www.grovemusic.com

STANDARDS:

Art Connections

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=9&standardID=1

Understands connections among the various art forms and other disciplines.

Music

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=11&standardID=7

Understands the relationship between music and history and culture.

Historical Understanding

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=3&standardID=2

Understands the historical perspective.

Language Arts

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/SubjectTopics.asp?SubjectID=7

Writing
Uses the general skills and strategies of the writing process.

Reading
Uses the general skills and strategies of the reading process.
Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.

Listening and Speaking
Uses listening and speaking strategies for different purposes.

Viewing
Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media.

Working with Others

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=22&standardID=4
Displays effective interpersonal communication skills.

Thinking and Reasoning

http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/standardDetails.asp?subjectID=21&standardID=3
Effectively uses mental processes that are based on identifying similarities and differences.

This lesson was prepared by Lisa Prososki, an independent educational consultant and instructional design specialist who taught middle school and high school social studies, English, reading, and technology courses for 12 years.