Lesson 2.5: The Blues As A Story Poem

Questions to be Answered
What are the characteristics of blues music?
Why do people sing the blues?

Suggested Methods

  1. Summarize the information given above about the blues.
  2. Play “Old Fishing Hole” from the CD and have the students pay close attention to the A-A-B vocal pattern.
  3. Play the selection again, this time having the students concentrate on the musical accompaniment and solos, specifically the role of the guitar and harmonica. At times the lead guitar or harmonica is playing short solo fills—answering the vocalist. At other times, the lead instrument is playing a full solo.
  4. Play “Scared of Your Love.” Ask students to listen for the same features described above.
  5. Show the video segment on Louis McTizic and his group. Ask students to discuss the information revealed in the interviews. In this instance, how do musicians come together to play?

Student Activity

Ask students to write their own lyrics to a blues song in the A-A-B format. For an example, start them with: “My friend was so mean to me.” Have students share their lyrics and discuss form, repetition, and other stylistic features of poetry.

HIGH SCHOOL ADDITIONS: Ask students to find other blues lyrics and compare them to McTizic’s and Wright’s. How does the composition vary? What might this have to do with the social context—urban vs. rural, Northern vs. Southern, commerical vs. community styles?

Are there any musicians in the class who can play piano, guitar, or harmonica? If so, can they add music that indicates the instrumental voice to student compositions? Have students discuss and evaluate various compositions. What makes for a good blues song?

 

Home/Community Connection

Invite a blues musician into the class to talk about how to write a blues song. Have him or her demonstrate the use of the guitar as a second voice, musically responding to the lyrics. Use the Iowa Folklife Resource Guide to identify possible musicians. Be sure the sample songs are appropriate for the classroom.

 

Student/Senior Citizen Exchange

Have students and seniors write blues lyrics about being their age (teenagers and elders respectively). Switch roles—have students write a blues lyric about old age, and have seniors write a blues lyric about being teenagers. Have a group discussion comparing and contrasting the ways in which age is represented by students and seniors.

 
    Photo  
 
 
LESSON 2.5
 
Louis McTizic grips the microphone to sing the blues. Does facial expression help a singer tell a story?
   
PHOTO BY RICK VARGAS
 
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HANDOUTS/READINGS

Handout:
Lyrics of "Old Fishing Hole."

Reading:
Iowa State Fare liner notes:
Louis and the Blues Review


MEDIA SUPPORT

Video:
Profiles:
Segment 4: Iowa Folklife Montage, Louis McTizic and Etheleen Wright (first 3 minutes)

CD:
Iowa State Fare:
Selection 6: "Old Fishing Hole,"
Selection 5: "Scared of Your Love."