In this lesson, after being introduced to jazz music, students will research the history of jazz and one jazz musician. They will then create a brochure introducing others to the life and music of this musician and his or her influence on culture.
[Play a couple of jazz selections.]
Do you know what type of music this is? How do you determine what kind of music it is? For example, how do you know hip hop is hip hop and not jazz?
The kind of music a country or culture creates tells us a lot about that country and its history. Indian music isn’t the same as Mexican music, for example. What country or culture does jazz come from?
In this activity we’re going to learn about the history of jazz and what affects it has had on the culture of the United States.
Jazz is a type of music that began in African American communities in the southern United States around the beginning of the twientieth century. It was a new style of music that brought together music traditions from West Africa and Europe. Some of its West African musical influences give jazz its unique sound: improvising, “swinging,” using blue notes, and combining different rhythms.
From its start at the turn of the century, jazz has taken many different forms. You may have heard of New Orleans or Dixieland Jazz. There is also Afro-Cuban jazz, Brazilian Jazz, Free Jazz, and many other kinds of jazz. Ragtime was the first form of jazz. Right after the Civil War, when slaves were emancipated, there were few jobs for African-Americans. Many black musicians wrote and performed their own music to make money. That’s how Ragtime was born. One of the greatest Ragtime composers was Scott Joplin.
New Orleans was an early center of jazz. African-American jazz musicians played music in clubs and for funeral parades. Jelly Roll Morton was one of the most famous composers and performers of New Orleans jazz.
Has anybody heard of Sir Duke? Sir Duke is Duke Ellington, one of the greatest swing jazz composers. In the 1930s Swing Jazz became popular and many famous jazz musicians, such as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Sophie Tucker, and Lil Armstrong (Louis Armstrong’s wife), were the leaders of big bands or orchestras who played in dance clubs. The International Sweethearts of Rhythm and the Hip Chicks were two of the most famous all-women jazz bands in the 1940s.
In the last half of the 20th century there were many kinds of jazz, cool jazz, hard jazz, and free jazz, and many great jazz composers and performers, for example, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. Can you name any others? [Examples: John Coltrane, Marianne McPartland, and Carla Bley.]
In this activity, you will each research one jazz musician and the contribution he or she has made to American culture. Then you will create a brochure to teach others what you have learned.
Follow the steps below to guide your students through this lesson plan. See student guide link at right.
Assess students’ work based on whether the information in their brochure is complete, accurate and well designed.
What instruments make up a jazz trio, quartet, or full band? Ask students to talk about other music genres that use the same instruments. How are drums played differently in a jazz band than a hard rock band?