“VH1 ROCK DOCS” CURRICULUM WRITTEN BY ST. MARY’S INSTRUCTOR

Since Director of Music Kathy Briggs first swept into the halls of St. Mary’s Academy two years ago, she has created wonderful opportunities for students far and wide.  The school’s choir has more than quadrupled, she fought for the all-girls’ choir to participate in its first ever OSAA State Choral Festival, her master’s work was awarded a rare “superior high” score, and most recently she authored three lesson plans titled “The Night James Brown Saved Boston” for VH1 Rock Docs http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/vh1_rock_docs/134183/episode_about.jhtml which aired at the beginning of September and will again in October.

VH1 collaborates with The National Association for Music Education (MENC) to provide lesson plans for a monthly commercial-free program that highlights a popular artist or group.  Plans for each program incorporate the National Standards for Music Education and MENC approached Briggs to write the VH1 September/October documentary.  As part of the Cable in the Classroom initiative, her lesson and others are available on the VH1 Music Studio Web site www.vh1musicstudio.com for teachers across the nation to access, download and use at an appropriate time in their curriculum.

“MENC deeply values the contributions of educators such as Kathryn Briggs who take time from their busy schedules to share their resources and ideas with other educators by providing lesson plans to accompany VH1 Music Studio’s programs,” says MENC Executive Director John J. Mahlmann. 

Briggs’ curriculum is about the historic concert James Brown performed in Boston during the turbulent days following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Worried about the chaotic social atmosphere, the city televised Brown’s concert and, as other major cities burned with riots and violence, the streets of Boston were quiet while the population stayed home to watch the commemorative concert.    

“The lessons I wrote are targeted to the 7-12th grade general music class,” says Briggs, “and could be used as an integrated lesson with social sciences.  The first lesson discusses music’s ability to allow people to express their feelings and emotions in a way words cannot.  The second lesson is an examination of African-American music history and its ties to societal issues leading up to Brown’s concert.  The third lesson deals with songs of protest and the Civil Rights movement and how these songs help people to cope with turbulent times, as well as spread the message of equality.”