Class: Women in Music: From Big Mama Thornton to Beyoncé

Women in Music: From Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog" to Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter"

Thursdays, 7:30-8:30pm

8 weeks: January 22 - March 12

When Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter was labeled “ground-breaking” in 2024, it raised an important question for musicians: ground-breaking compared to what history?

Country music is built on Black musical traditions, and Black women have been central to shaping the sounds, techniques, and stories that define American music—yet their contributions are rarely taught or credited.

This class invites musicians to dig into that lineage by learning and playing songs that help us hear these voices again and learn from what they brought to American music and culture.

Through hands-on exploration of repertoire, style, and influence, we’ll study how Black women musicians shaped rhythm, melody, storytelling, and genre itself.

Players will leave with new songs under their fingers, deeper historical understanding, and a richer musical vocabulary rooted in the true foundations of American music. This class is taught by Avery Hill, long-time 'ukulele instructor and trained instructor, and Lois Leveen, scholar of history and literature.

Together, they share a passion for building community and social understanding through music.

If you need a more accessible price point, please use the coupon code ACCESS for an automatic 25% off your order, no questions asked. If you need further assistance, please reach out to the instructor at directly and we will make it happen!

For those who prefer to pay cash or check and avoid processing fees, you may do so at the first day of class. Just be sure to reach out to the instructor at to confirm your class registration.

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Host or Publisher Artichoke Community Music