Just as important as understanding the evolution of the musical structure of the blues is understanding the ways blues music expressed individual emotions. Students can be shown the essential part these rural lyrics played in the African-American oral traditions. Lacking an educational system, these early country blues men and women created beautiful poetry that responded to the conditions of their world. Sometimes the lyrics expressed the anger they could not speak. Other times, they painted a vivid picture of African-American life in those fields.
Music reflects the feelings of the times.
Through the blues, student listeners can feel what happened in those times and know to apply it to today. A comprehensive curriculum of one week to a month in length can address the main educational issues of the next century, inter discipline and diversity. Subjects like Music, Art, English, and Social Studies are natural fits, while creative teachers can individually figure ways to tie Math, Science and Tech Ed to a BITS unit. Just a simply activity like designing a CD package enlists Art, English, and Music disciplines. When students plan out the touring itinerary for a band, they will utilize Math, Geography, and Language Arts skills in their planning of a month on the road.