Music Video | “Let it Rock”

While “The Kids Like Blues Project: Our Video” provides an in-depth look at the program, we wanted to make a “proper” music video that was informative, entertaining, and also brief. This music video explicitly shows how we start the process of learning songs, starting first with focusing on academic reading, listening, and speaking standards, and then having the students choreograph their own moves. You’ll also see us doing internet research where we weave in historical lessons on Westward Expansion and the building of the Transcontinental Railroad, related visual art projects for students, practicing and recording the song with small groups where we focus on pronunciation, phrasing, tone, and modulation, working with students in software editing the tracks, and finally, performing on a live soundstage. All voices are students in the class, and Mr. Schwartz plays all the guitar. Mr. Schwartz hired a session drummer and bassist to record drums and bass for the song.
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Our Goal

Once we’ve used the music as a springboard to teach academic content standards, our goal is to take our work to completion by performing it onstage and recording it together in digital multitrack audio and video editing programs.

The students even learn how to operate programs like iMovie, Photoshop and Garage Band.

iMovie icon Photoshop icon GarageBand-icon

So far our performances have included playing a street fair, for a large audience of staff and students at the Cal State San Marcos College of Education and on local TV news and KPBS TV (watch these performances on our videos page). We're a real band, and we're learning and rocking! We have about ten songs in our repertoire.

For Your Further Interest

Check out these educational links, including Mr. Schwartz's approach to using fishing and hands-on science to motivate and engage students.

Social Connect

We invite you to use the Facebook & Twitter links above to get the very latest on our music and appearances.

Video: Sweet Home Chicago

Kids Like Blues Plays Sweet Home Chicago
Click video still to watch the Kids Like Blues Band music video, "Sweet Home Chicago."

Blues & Thematic Teaching


Click video still to view how our program works and details how we cover specific academic content standards.

In the News

We have been featured by US Dept. of Education, KPBS, and more. Click here to view what all the buzz is about.