SistaStrings
Milwaukee, WI
“Music was always around us in some shape or form. As we got older and started figuring out the path that our instruments would take us, it started to make sense to pull from the experiences that we've had to make our own music.”
Musician Interview
Remembering and Celebrating Through Music
Chauntee and Monique Ross combine their classical training with gospel and other influences to tell stories of their lives today. They connect their own experiences to their ancestors and to the next generation—their young performance students.
“Our music is really soulful.” “And it's a combination of all different sounds of music that we both grew up with and learned over the years.”
Questions to consider:
- Monique says that music heals and connects. What kind of impact has music had on you and your life?
- Chauntee describes an especially memorable music experience from her childhood where she went to hear the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra perform. What is a memorable experience you’ve had with music? How did that music make you feel?
- Chauntee and Monique reflect on how their lives are much different than those of their ancestors, and the progress that is being made, especially for women and women of color. What do you think is needed to keep making progress? How do you think music can be a part of that progress?
Musician Performance
“Goodbye”
This song was written during a time when Chauntee and Monique were saying goodbye to some people and things in their lives, while also dealing with not feeling seen or heard in the music industry.
“Goodbye” was composed by Chauntee Ross and Monique Ross of SistaStrings. This performance was recorded by PBS Wisconsin Education on February 28, 2020.
Blockquote
“I always feel like there is moreto dig into when you’re trying to be vulnerable with your music... It's like you and the song, and you're sharing your heart with everyone else, which is a beautiful experience, but there's always room to grow and learn how to do it better. It's exciting, it's a journey.”
Play Music
“Goodbye”
Musicians participating in this project have granted permission to PBS Wisconsin Education for their selected songs to be shared. By using this PBS Wisconsin Education website or any of the resources provided to you through the website, you signify your agreement to our Terms of Use.
Guides & Resources
Educator Engagement Guide
SistaStrings
Wondering how to spark additional learning using these media resources? Check out this guide developed by music educators, for music educators.
Inside this guide:
- Background information about the musician
- Knowledge, skill and affective outcomes for learners with strategies for achieving them
- Academic standards aligned with these resources
Milwaukee, WI
Project Credits
Producer
Mia Forslund
Ryan Hendricks
Videography
Ryan Hendricks
Ian Glodich
Nia Scott
Editing
Ryan Hendricks
Sound
Inga Foley
Beauxregard Neylon
Curtis Sorensen
Captioning
Vicki Way Kipp
Design
Scott Stetson
Amanda Roslansky
Ian Glodich
Amber Samdahl
Web
Norman Yuson Cuaño
John Vieth
Tim Schneider
Composition
Chauntee Ross
Monique Ross
Music Education Content
Kathy Bartling
Darin Menk
Laurie Fellenz
Engagement Guide
Katherine Miller
Hadfield School
Waukesha, WI
Project Partner
Wisconsin School Music Association
Executive Producer
Megan Monday
Director of Education
Alyssa Tsagong
Director of Television
Jon Miskowski
Special Thanks
Brian Heller and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Mead Witter School of Music
Funders
Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation
Focus Fund for Education
Friends of PBS Wisconsin
Educator Advisory Group
Kevin Blakeslee
Lincoln Elementary
Madison Metropolitan School District
Madison, WI
Peter Dennee
Carthage College
Kenosha, WI
Matt Eidson
Madison, WI
Heidi Henderson
Milwaukee German Immersion School
Milwaukee, WI
Amy Maack
Gifford K8 School
Racine, WI
Katherine Miller
Hadfield School
Waukesha, WI
Julie A. Palkowski, PhD
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
Schuyler Gardner Pietz
Madison Elementary School
Stevens Point, WI
Linda Ruesink
Watertown Unified School District
Watertown, WI
Sue Smits
Unified School District of De Pere
De Pere, WI
Kurt Stein
Kurt Stein’s School of Music
Fox Cities, WI
Randal Swiggum
Madison Metropolitan School District
Madison, WI
Jesus M. Valencia
Rio H.S./M.S.
Rio, WI
Natasha Verhulst
Keshena Primary School
Menominee Indian School District
Keshena, WI
Lucy Wrenn
Palmyra-Eagle Area School District
Palmyra, WI