Gulf Coast Highway

Overview

The Gulf Coast Highway knits together the rich music and cultures of communities across five states- from Houston, Texas, to Jacksonville, Florida. In this series of podcasts, high school students will learn how the diverse styles of blues, choral music, Cajun, zydeco, brass band, border music, and gospel meet and mingle in the Gulf Coast region. Students will hear anecdotes and insights from scholars and renowned musicians like Nanci Griffith, Grupo Fantasma, and Marcia Ball.

Suggested Use

Connect students to history, social studies, geography, language arts, and music by exploring the Gulf Coast region of the United States. This series of podcasts focuses on the eclectic musical traditions of the Gulf Coast—and the musicians and communities who contribute to their evolution. Encourage students to listen to all of the podcasts then try facilitating any of the discussion questions or activities below.

• This podcast series explores regional musical styles and the communities that influence each type of music. How is Grupo Fantasma's music a reflection of U.S.-Mexico border culture? How are U.S. and Mexican musical styles represented in their music? How did Hurricane Katrina affect brass band musicians?
• Have students start an oral history project in their communities. Ask them the following: What kind of music (or another art form) is unique to, or popular in, your community? What local bands are successful? Invite students to interview local legends and ask them how the community has shaped their music.
• Throughout history, music has served social, religious, entertainment, escapist, and political purposes. What are examples of these different purposes as described in the podcasts? How did the harsh realities of slavery and prejudice give rise to certain types of music?
• Ask students which of the musical styles featured in the series do they find most interesting. Why? Which musical style most closely resembles their favorite music? How is it similar or different?
• Many musicians featured in the podcasts describe how old traditions and musical styles have evolved over time due to new music technologies (i.e., the electric guitar) or societal changes (i.e., the shifting role of the gambling industry and its influence on the Delta blues, or the racial dynamics that once distinguished zydeco from Cajun music). After students listen to the podcasts, have them cite different examples of musical styles that have changed over time. For each example, discuss why the style changed.
• Kip Lornell of George Washington University claims that blues music is the most important form of American music developed in the 20th century. After listening to the segment on Delta blues, ask students if they agree or disagree with Lornell.
• Blues, gospel, and brass band music influenced both rock-and-roll and Hip Hop. How? Have students listen to the podcasts and list examples. Ask them to decide whether they think blues, gospel, or brass band music was the most influential to rock-and-roll. Which was most influential to Hip Hop? Why?
• Marcia Ball believes that blues music will continue to survive, whereas other types of music will come and go. Ask students if they agree with her opinion. Have them write a research paper on a musical style that they think will survive over the ages. They should include evidence that speaks to the genre's contributions to music history.
• Nanci Griffith says that her hometown of Texas has influenced her music. Ask students to describe how their state, city, or neighborhood has influenced them. What do they dislike or dislike about it? Have students write a poem or song influenced or inspired by their surroundings.

Technical Requirements

This multimedia resource is bandwidth-intensive, requiring a high-speed Internet connection. Users should be equipped with speakers (or headphones in a lab or classroom setting).