THE RHYTHMS OF NEW ORLEANS

This field trip will center around the rhythms of New Orleans music as the foundation to the music of Louisiana.  As Congo Square was among the most important gathering places of enslaved people, students will learn about history of Congo Square and its impact on the culture of the New Orleans music from the continent of Africa and the musical traditions they brought with them to New Orleans through the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.  Discussion will include the GRAMMY Award-Winning film Take Me To The River New Orleans.  As a pre-field trip activity, students will watch Take Me To The River New Orleans in class. The field trip will include an interactive session to identify rhythms, and work through syncopation activities performing together in a rhythm choir. This education program is made possible by the State of Louisiana Office of Tourism and the Galena Yorktown Foundation Clinicians: Dr. Emmett G. Price III - Dean, Africana Studies - Berklee College of Music & Boston Conservatory at Berklee Ashley Shabankareh - Take Me To The River New Orleans Curriculum Writer, Director of Operations and Programs for Trombone Shorty Foundation, Adjunct Professor at Loyola University New Orleans and Xavier University Martin Shore - Director and Producer, Take Me To The River New Orleans Artists: Bassist Robert Mercurio from the band Galactic, and Drummer Deven Trusclair from the band Dumpstaphunk Arin Canbolat - Associate Dean for Education Outreach - Berklee College of Music Pre-Field Trip Activity: Teachers show the following film for discussion in the classroom: Post-film questions will be provided to teachers for an engaging conversation.

Take Me to the River New Orleans, chronicles how New Orleans musicians fused different styles, genres, and influences to create world music. It premiered theatrically in April 2022.