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Elective classes encourage teens to trace roots of music
By Katie Byard
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Monday, Dec 01, 2008
RAVENNA: Teacher Drew Adametz asks his students whether they brought their homework.
Students take out their iPod music players — normally forbidden at Ravenna High School.
Soon, rock, heavy metal, rap and country songs blare through the classroom.
What in the name of Rock and Roll High School is going on here?
It's a new class — dubbed History of Rock & Roll — at Ravenna High.
The school joins a relative few in the country offering such an elective.
Adametz, echoing other teachers of rock history, said rock offers compelling lessons about society and allows him to teach styles of earlier music that influenced rock.
Students ''didn't sign up to hear big band or jazz,'' Adametz said. ''But I tell them, 'Rock didn't fall out of the sky.' ''
Adametz read six college textbooks before settling on one he considered the least risque: Rock Music Styles: A History.
Southeast High, also in Portage County, is in its second year of offering R-O-C-K in the USA, the name coming from a song by Indiana rocker John Mellencamp.
''I'm hoping students get really interested in learning how rock 'n' roll helped shape society,'' and vice versa, said Southeast teacher Holly Wickersham, the school's choir director.
She doesn't use a book. She taps the Internet for everything, from songs to band biographies to film clips of performances.
''The students love the multi-media aspect,'' she said.
Southeast's class grew out of a concern that too many students were spending too many hours in study hall. Adding nontraditional electives was seen as a remedy.
The state requires students to earn at least six elective credits during their time in high school.
On a recent day, Adametz, 43, the Ravenna High band director, was dressed in khakis and looked more teacher than rock 'n' roller.
A small, sparkly earring was barely visible in one ear.
It was a Friday, and that's the day Adametz encourages students to bring in songs so he can use them to prompt discussion about rock's evolution.
''What are the roots of this song?'' Adametz asks loudly, trying to be heard over the heavy guitar chords of one of the tunes. He taps the chalkboard where he has written a list of music styles.
Emily Nelson, 16, yells out ''gospel.'' Other students call out ''folk.''
It was both, Adametz explains.
The course began this school year with Adametz talking about artists such as Robert Johnson, the blues guitarist considered by some to be the Grandfather of Rock and Roll, who died 70 years ago.
Later, Adametz lectured about how white artists popularized rhythm-and-blues songs originally recorded by black singers. He played for the students Elvis Presley's 1956 hit Hound Dog, as well as the version recorded three years earlier by Willie Mae ''Big Mama'' Thornton, a black singer.
Taylor Patterson, 17, echoing other students, said her parents think the class ''is really cool.''
''They wish they would have had something like this back in high school,'' she said.
Emily, the 16-year-old student, no doubt would please Adametz when she says that some days the lessons are as much about history as they are music.
''The early music gives you a better understanding of the culture that my parents and grandparents were brought up in,'' Emily said. ''Their stories don't really sink in until you hear what they listened to.''
Courtney Mims, 17, said that at first he was reluctant to take the class. Courtney, an African-American, figured that because the school is largely white, discussions would focus on white artists.
He was thrilled to learn about all the black artists central to the development of rock.
A fan of hip-hop and contemporary blues and gospel, he has been inspired to download some older tunes by such black artists as Aretha Franklin.
''I'm getting a broader ear for music,'' he said.
That's the point, Adametz said.
''Hopefully, with a broader ear, you open up a broader mind,'' he said.
Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.
RAVENNA: Teacher Drew Adametz asks his students whether they brought their homework.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Posted 11:18 AM, 12/01/2008
Excellent course idea! One of the REAL culture wars in this country is between those who understand how arts shape culture and those who think arts are merely a disposable side dish.
Rock On!
Akron, OH
Posted 11:33 AM, 12/01/2008
As long as they are also taught to balance a checkbook and read with comprehension.
hudson, oh
Posted 11:55 AM, 12/01/2008
What a farce! Maybe next year they'll have a class on how to make bongs in shop. Please!!
Posted 03:11 PM, 12/01/2008
Well I did go to Ravenna and I do recall them making a few of those in ceramics class.
Posted 08:15 PM, 12/01/2008
History and culture have shaped music over time. At some points the reverse is also true. If mark and TruthPatrol have an issue with the three being taught together than they may want to look how other subjects are also being taught in classrooms today.
Getting students engaged is better than just teaching to a test. Or having them simply not attend classes. If this class motivates students to participate in their education that is awesome. Not everyone does well just sitting and listening to lectures. These teachers who are involved with this deserve a pat on the back for finding ways to engage students.
To my knowledge, schools still teach basic skills as well. So to people who want to belittle something that seems off beat, get over it. Be glad that schools can still offer music education with the budget cuts and emphasis on passing state mandated tests.
