Okorie “OkCello” Johnson

Okorie “OkCello” Johnson is a groundbreaking cellist and composer who blends classical cello with jazz, funk, reggae, and electronic music. Using live looping and improvisation, he creates dynamic performances that explore African Diasporic stories and challenge traditional ideas about the cello. Through music and storytelling, OkCello invites students to reimagine the cello’s role and experience the power of creativity, culture, and expression.

OkCello: Music That Moves Us

Directions for the Teacher

This guide supports engaging students with OkCello’s inventive use of cello—through performance, history, and interaction. Activities promote listening, reflection, and musical understanding suitable for all grade levels. Student responses may be spoken, written, drawn, or enacted as appropriate.

Watch & Listen

Introduce students to OkCello’s rhythmic and expressive style through these video clips. Use the discussion prompts to guide observation and reflection before or after the performance.

Discussion Prompts

• What sounds and musical elements do you hear? (tempo, rhythm, melody)
• How do the solo cello pieces make you feel, and why?
• How does OkCello’s style differ from traditional cello playing?
• How might technology or creativity shape the performance style?

Activities & Extensions

• Sound Exploration: Identify different sound qualities (e.g. bowed, tapped, rhythmic) and experiment creating similar effects using household items.
• Musical Response: Create visual art, poetry, or movement inspired by one of the clips.
• Listening Skills Practice: Practice listening for tempo and dynamic changes—describe what you hear.
• Composer’s Intent: Discuss what OkCello might be trying to communicate through the music’s mood and structure.

Relevant Standards

Grades K–2

• MU.K.C.1.2: Identify various sounds in a piece of music.
• MU.K.C.3.1: Share opinions about selected pieces of music.
• MU.K.O.3.1: Respond to music to demonstrate how it makes one feel.
• MU.1.C.1.1: Respond to teacher-selected musical characteristics.
• MU.2.C.1.1 / MU.2.O.1.1 / MU.2.O.3.1: Identify elements, describe tempo/dynamics.

Grades 3–5

• MU.3.C.1.1–1.3: Listening skills, personal interpretations, instrument families.
• MU.4.C.1.1–1.3 / MU.4.C.3.1 / MU.4.F.2.1: Vocabulary, instrument classification, career contexts.
• MU.5.C.1.1–1.2 / MU.5.O.3.1 / MU.5.H.2.2 / MU.5.F.2.2: Expressive elements, technology, live performance value.

Grades 6–12

• MU.68.C.1.1 / MU.68.C.1.3 / MU.68.H.2.2: Strategies for listening, style recognition, tech influence.
• MU.912.H.2.2 / MU.912.H.2.3 / MU.912.C.1.1 / MU.912.C.2.2 / MU.912.O.3.1 / MU.912.F.1.1 / MU.912.F.2.2: Genre evolution, evaluating works, expressive elements, industry impact.