by Holly Smith
A few years ago, as a PK–8th music educator, my school was experiencing students struggling with reading at their grade level. I wanted to help the general classroom teachers inspire students to want to read in some way. After attending Rockfest in 2017, a professional development conference presented by Little Kid’s Rock for implementing popular music and modern band instruments in the classroom, I was inspired to implement more Hip Hop into my classes. This was relatively easy with my middle school classes as they took ownership in participation and improvising. I struggled with how my primary grades might experience Hip Hop in the classroom in a way that would be meaningful and impactful for them as individuals.
Why not use Hip Hop to help younger students struggling with reading to not only motivate and engage them in learning, but to create a way for them to connect the sentences they are reading? Stories have been shared through music dating back to ancient origins. Music has been used throughout history in storytelling. Furthermore, music can help to evoke emotions, as well as spark creativity, stimulate neurocognitive domains, and improve literacy.
As I began to brainstorm ways to implement stories and Hip Hop in the classroom, I started with very simple children’s books by Bill Martin, Jr. and Dr. Seuss. Naturally, while reading the books aloud, I found many had even phrases and rhyming words which allow for natural flow and cadences. I started playing a Hip Hop instrumental-only beat by Drake and started reading, or rapping rather, the books aloud. I was amazed by how much fun I had and how easy the music flowed with the beat. The possibilities were now endless.
To implement this lesson idea in my classroom I decided to use a Project-Based Learning model with the seventh and first grades classes at my school. Project-Based Learning is a student-centered approach that allows the students to gain a deeper knowledge through active exploration of real-world experiences. The first-grade teacher identified each student’s reading level and I paired up each seventh grader with a first grader. The seventh-grade student selected a book from the library at the reading level of their buddy and began working with them on reading the book and picking out a Hip Hop beat to rap the book to. Together the students created a video presentation of the book while reading and rapping the book with an instrumental beat. After this initial introduction, students are now more eager to read and will take books and create their own Hip Hop arrangements of them individually.
Hip Hop Education has become an ever-growing popular movement today, especially due to its cultural relevance and its tendency to promote—through its connection with students—an increased social and political awareness in an academic setting. By implementing Hip-Hop in the classroom, the teacher is able to speak the student’s language; foster mutual respect; model positive behaviors and attitudes; and teach students to overcome fear. To be an advocate for Hip-Hop education teachers must, be prepared with ways of how it can be used as well as let your students be advocates for it as well by sharing Hip-Hop performances with stakeholders. Hip-Hop grew from marginalized youth who wanted a voice. Use Hip-Hop to give your students a voice.
Holly Smith is a regular presenter at music education conferences and workshops across the United States. She has taught grades P3–12 general music, band, choir, and musical theatre. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Kentucky. Holly teaches bassoon at Asbury University, Centre College, and Transylvania University and teaches at the Dalcroze Summer Institute at the University of Kentucky. She is certified in Dalcroze, Orff-Schulwerk, and Kodaly approaches and actively pursues training in other methods and approaches. Holly is a Little Kid’s Rock teacher and advocates for Modern Band in the music classroom.