Bluegrass Music as a Reflection of Culture 
     WebQuest - Student Page

      Author:   Dr. Pam Petty         Targeted Grade Level:  Middle/Secondary
                   Kentucky Core Academic Standards:  6th Grade 

                                                                                                                                         "Bluegrass is just plain talk put to music."  - Ben Humphreys
Introduction


iTunes, you-tunes, we all have our fav-o-rite tunes!  People defend their musical tastes, their opinions of the best groups, the most talented artists, and the music that they think really rocks.  Many people have specific musical tastes and limit their listening to a particular genre (kind) of music.  Others have eclectic (varied) tastes in music and enjoy many different types.  Oftentimes, it is a matter of not having heard or learned to appreciate different genres of music.  Music, like literature and art, is a carrier of culture.  In other words, we learn about people, places, values, beliefs, family, life and many other aspects of a culture through the music people write, sing, play, and appreciate. 

This WebQuest is an introduction to traditional Bluegrass music.  You will be engaged in conversations about the history of Bluegrass music, famous Bluegrass performers, and the relevance of Bluegrass music to other learning (geographic, musical, literary).  Your challenge is to listen -- to think -- to compare -- to contrast -- to connect -- and hopefully appreciate this most foundational of American music. Much in the vein of the current TV series featuring crime scene investigators, you will be asked to:

  • gather "evidence" of certain themes found in Bluegrass music

  • isolate language within the songs that provide insight into elements of culture

  • synthesize the evidence gathered to discern patterns by which we can draw conclusions about elements of culture as expressed in Bluegrass music

  • analyze findings to discern consistencies and discrepancies within Bluegrass music and in comparison to other genres of music

Bluegrass music presents itself in a variety of ways, each maintaining the specific qualities of instrumentation, high-pitched voices, harmonies, rhythm, and the "plain talk" so closely associated with traditional Bluegrass music.  According to Erbsen (2003, p.8), Bluegrass music is represented in:

  • English ballads

  • Old-fashioned parlor songs

  • Sentimental ballads from Tin Pan Alley

  • Scots-Irish fiddle tunes

  • Plantation melodies

  • Folksongs

  • Murder ballads

  • Love ballads

  • Gospel songs 

"To me there is character and dignity to be found in the old mountain ballads....they are truly American folk songs, born out of the life and experience of the mountain people."  - Bradley Kincaid, in Erbsen (2003, p. 58).

The Tasks
The Tasks in this WebQuest ask participants to listen to Bluegrass songs, read the lyrics, and use electronic and print resources to document aspects of culture as reflected in the music.  Students will have opportunities to compare and contrast their own lives and beliefs with those reflected in the Bluegrass music they hear.  Tasks will include responding to several data response formats that guide students through critical analysis of the songs and of different cultural themes which will include:  

The Process: 
What do we already know? 

Students should work in groups and engage in "grand conversations" on the following to activate schema and connect with previous learning.  Use this data response format to document your thinking on the following 5 prompts.  Students should: 

1.  Work with a partner to brainstorm 5 words they think of when they see the words "Bluegrass Music?" 

2.  Combine and categorize the words into groups by headings (positive, negative, specific songs, specific singers, musical instruments, geographic area, era, etc.) 

3.  Ask students to make a list of ten topics they think might be included as the main ideas in Bluegrass music. 

4.  Ask students to think of ten current songs they know and the topic or main idea of each song (love, work, war, religion, family, home, etc.).  Note any similarities between music in popular culture and to traditional Bluegrass music. 

5.  How does music in general tell us about our culture? 

Task 1:  Historical Roots of Bluegrass

Students will work in groups to select at least 3 websites from the lists provided below.  Students should use this data response format as a guide (you will need to draw your own graphic organizers) to gather information related to the history of Bluegrass music, including famous people, places, and events surrounding the beginnings of this genre of music. Each group should select 3 different websites and work together within each group to complete the data response format listed above.  Students may use this handout as a guide for developing their Bluegrass History Report:  http://www.pampetty.com/bluegrasshistoryreport.pdf

You may encounter some new vocabulary.  To check your beginning knowledge of key terms/concepts found in any study of Bluegrass music, please click HERE and follow the directions.  To further develop word meanings and concepts, go to this website and do a Semantic Feature Analysis of each word:  http://www.longwood.edu/staff/jonescd/projects/educ530/aboxley/pdffiles/4.pdf

Internet Resources for Bluegrass Music



http://www.ibma.org/events.programs/schools/manual/
http://www.birthplaceofcountrymusic.org/? (Bristol, TN)
http://www.bluegrass-museum.org/
http://www.roughstock.com/history/bgrass.html (Monroe History, Flatt and Scruggs)
http://www.beanblossom.com/   (Bean Blossom Festival)
http://www.idahobluegrassassociation.org/index.htm
http://folkmusic.about.com/od/historyoffolk/a/Blugrass_Histor.htm
http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/appalach.htm

Bill Monroe
http://www.cybergrass.com/
http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/inductees/bill_monroe.html

 Task 2 - Presenting the History of Bluegrass Music

Using the data response format from Task 1, each group should categorize information using this handout.  After information has been added to the form, compile data from all groups to generate one compressed list of facts per category.  A scribe within each group should work with the appointed "technology guru" to develop a PowerPoint presentation that summarizes the information gathered and provides an overview of important aspects of the history of Bluegrass music.  (Tutorials for developing PowerPoint presentations are listed below.) 

Check with your teacher to determine who your audience for the presentation is going to be and how your presentation will be shared (in class or eletronically). 

Task 3 - Calling all BMI's (Bluegrass Music Investigators)!

You have done the prep work and are now ready for the nitty-gritty of investigating Bluegrass music.  Woven into the lyrics, underscored by the beat, tempo, and musical score, there are themes that provide insight into the cultures of the people who write, sing, play, and LOVE Bluegrass music.  Your job is to carefully pull apart the layers, chronicle the language used, and demonstrate what you find. 

Students should work in groups with each group selecting one theme from the ones listed below.  Some music is suggested and some links are included to on-line resources, however, you may find it useful to also play Bluegrass music CD's and add other songs to the ones listed below.  The same format is used for each theme:  (click here for a print-friendly handout of this form)

Words/Phrases Related to Theme Symbolism found in Words/Phrases Belief Statements based on Words/Phrases
     
     
     
     
     
     

Further, categorize the statements in terms of consistency and discrepancies among songs within each theme. 

Themes:

Religion

War/Patriotism

Railroads/Rivers/Travel

Courtship, Love, Heartbreak

Mountains/Rural Life

Folklore/Ballads

Homeplace/Family

Working in Coal Mines

*This website features several CDs with Bluegrass and other traditional music:  http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/

Adaptations and Extensions

Now that you have the "flavor" of some of the major themes that comprise Bluegrass songs, let's think of some way to express what you have learned. 

1)  Design a flyer in the form of an advertisement for heaven using some of the words, phrases, and analogies found in the Bluegrass songs you investigated.

2)  Make a music video to go with a Bluegrass song by using a digital camcorder to capture images and motion that tell the same story as the song. 

3)  Make a PowerPoint presentation that moves with the music to tell the story. 

4)  Do an in-depth comparison of NEW Bluegrass music vs. traditional Bluegrass music from times past.  Use timelines of themes, musical characteristics, profiles of performers/artists, and look for patterns over time in regard to wars, political movements, economic fluctuations, and social issues.

5)  Develop an annotated bibliography of literature (all genres) that connect to themes in Bluegrass music.

6)  Develop a Connected Theme Line - different type of music/literature/media with the same theme: 

     Bluegrass song Country Music song (or other type of music)      

    Picture Book   Novel  Information Book   

 Documentary or Movie

7)  Make a Jeopardy game from Bluegrass music trivia. 

8)  Trace traditional Bluegrass music to people and places of origin. 

9)  Take a Bluegrass music theme and experiment with different types of writing:

Planning:

Standards:  http://www.menc.org/publication/books/prek12st.html  (national association for music education)

Lyrics:  http://www.bluegrassworld.com/lyrics.htm

Lyrics:  http://www.roughstock.com/cowpie/songs/

Print Resources

Rural Roots of Bluegrass : Songs, Stories History - by Wayne Erbsen
Publisher: Native Ground Music (November 15, 2003) ISBN: 1883206405

Bluegrass Breakdown: The Making of the Old Southern Sound
by Robert Cantwell
Publisher: Da Capo Press; Reprint edition (September 1, 1992) ISBN: 0306804956

Old Time Fiddling Across America Book/CD Set (Spiral-bound)
by David Reiner & Peter Anick
Publisher: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (December 1, 2000) ISBN: 0786653817

The Bristol Sessions: Writings About the Big Bang of Country Music (Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies) (Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies) (Paperback) by Charles K. Wolfe (Editor), Ted Olson (Editor)
Publisher: McFarland & Company (April 30, 2005) ISBN: 0786419458

Backpocket Bluegrass Song Book (Paperback)
by Wayne Erbsen Publisher: Native Ground Music (January 15, 1955)  ISBN: 096293271X

Come Hither To Go Yonder: Playing Bluegrass With Bill Monroe (Music in American Life) (Paperback) by Bob Black Publisher: University of Illinois Press (June 21, 2005)  ISBN: 025207243X

The Bluegrass Reader (Music in American Life) (Hardcover)
by Thomas Goldsmith  Publisher: University of Illinois Press (April 1, 2004)  ISBN: 0252029143

 

 

Evaluation

Group work:  http://museumca.org/goldrush/curriculum/we_accuse/tgrouprubric.html
http://www.usm.edu/qep/docs/NFS_Group_Project_Rubric.htm

Bluegrass History Report:  http://www.intercom.net/local/school/sdms/mspap/wkidinf.html

Oral Presentation:  http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson960/Rubric.pdf

 

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