Music of Louisiana

Program Outline
In performance, Dixie Power Trio plays a variety of music associated with Louisiana and New Orleans.  This includes jazz, Cajun, zydeco, street parade, blues, boogie woogie, and a little rock and roll.  Band explains the origins of these styles and sometimes takes questions.  The audience is also involved with the program through clapping, singing, and participation on percussion (rub board and other instruments).

Virginia correlated SOL
Grades 1, 2, and 3 Civics - 1.12, 2.12 and 3.12: The student will recognize that communities in Virginia include people who have diverse ethnic origins, customs, and traditions, who make contributions to their communities, and who are united as Americans by common principles.

Relate to Other Subjects
Social Studies: The history of Louisiana is touched on in the presentation of Cajun and zydeco music and the origins of Acadian dialect.
Language: There is use of the French language throughout the performance (actually Acadian French), and students are taught several phrases.  The Mardi Gras and it’s relevance are also discussed.
Math: Well—there are four people in our trio—so I guess we won’t go there!

Teacher's Guide:

A Valuable Lesson from the Dixie Power Trio

With rising concern throughout the country that students be made to feel a sense of community in our schools, the Dixie Power Trio offers a unique opportunity toward this goal.  Music comes in many different styles and forms and students often perceive their own musical taste as an obstacle separating them from people with different preferences.  In fact, many areas where individual differences are noticeable (be they cultural, lingual, racial, academic, or physical) can cause students to feel less connected and more isolated.  The Dixie Power Trio performs a combination of styles that embraces differences while clearly celebrating commonalities.

The Dixie Power Trio combines musical styles originating in New Orleans, Louisiana—the ultimate melting pot, or “gumbo pot” of the United States—including Zydeco, blues, Dixieland, jazz, Cajun and rock.  Lyrics are in various New Orleans dialects including Accadian, French and English.  The band performs on an eclectic set of instruments including guitar, accordion, cornet, tuba, bass guitar, drums, washboard, harmonica, and vocals.  Students will experience enjoyment hearing music that they may not be at all familiar with and, looking around, they will find other students (along with their teachers) tapping their toes, clapping their hands, rising to their feet and singing along.  If your school is looking for a way to help students feel connected or bridge differences, this concert is for you.

Fact Sheet for Teachers

The Dixie Power Trio…

• is a four piece group which originated as a trio in 1993 and has recorded five CDs.
• performs various styles of music from New Orleans including Zydeco, blues, Dixieland, traditional jazz, Cajun and rock.
• emulates famous New Orleans musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton,  Sidney Bechet, Buddy Bolden, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, The Neville Brothers, Clifton Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Beausoleil.
• comes to you from the Washington/Baltimore area.
• travels throughout the United States performing concerts, festivals, and schools.
• can occasionally be heard as “drop ins” on NPR’s “All Things Considered.”
• can be found at these websites: www.dixiepowertrio.com, and www.cdbaby.com.

Prepare Your Students for the Show!

• Talk about where Louisiana is geographically

• Discuss the mardi gras—make masks or bring beads to wear

• Teach students the words to “When the Saints Go Marching In”

Word Search pdf

Suggested extensions

• Research famous musicians from New Orleans such as those listed above.
• Write an essay identifying similarities and differences of two styles of music.
• Research the history of the city of New Orleans or the state of Louisiana.