America’s Classical Music

Jazz Music

Did you know that jazz was born in the United States?

Jazz Music

Did you know that the drum set was invented by jazz musicians?

Jazz Music

Did you know that the word “cool” and “hip” were originally jazz terms?

History of Jazz

Referred to as “America’s classical music,” jazz is one of North America’s oldest and most celebrated musical genres.

The music that we call jazz was born around the year 1895 in New Orleans. It brought together the elements of Ragtime, marching band music, and the Blues.

History of Jazz

Jazz represented a break from tradition music where a composer wrote an entire piece of music on paper, leaving the musicians to break their backs playing exactly what was written on the score.

Jazz is the first genre of music to solely culminate in the United States. All other forms prior to jazz came from (Western) Europe, or were formed somewhere else.

History of Jazz

Jazz is an American Musical Art Form! Early records are categorized as

“race records.” Jazz helped breech the race barrier.

Characteristics of Jazz:

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Performed in brothels, clubs, streets, and river boats.

Syncopated (off-beat) rhythms and swing (lifting) subdivision.

Characteristics of Jazz:

Encompassed the ‘aleatoric’ or improvisational nature of Negro spirituals.

Three different components make this genre distinct:

1) Harmony

2) Rhythm

3) Improvisation

Jazz Music

“When they study our civilization two thousand years from now, there will be three things that America will be known for: the Constitution, baseball, and jazz music.”

- Gerald Early

History of Jazz

Jazz was conceived in New Orleans and moved up the Mississippi River to Memphis, St. Louis and finally Chicago.

Jazz spanned many musical forms such as spirituals, cake walks, ragtime and the blues.

Jazz is said to be the fundamental rhythms of human life and man’s contemporary reassessment of his traditional values.

History of Jazz

Volumes have been written on the origins of jazz based on black American life-styles.

Jazz has to do with human survival and the expression of life.

The origin of the word “jazz” is most often traced back to a vulgar term used for sexual acts.

History of Jazz

Those who play jazz have often expressed the feelings that jazz should remain undefined, jazz should be felt. “If you gotta ask, you’ll never know.” Louis Armstrong.

Jazz is the art of expression set to music!

Jazz DancingJazz Dancing– Is a form of dance that showcase’s a dancer’s Is a form of dance that showcase’s a dancer’s

individual style and originality.individual style and originality.– Every jazz dancer interprets and executes Every jazz dancer interprets and executes

moves and steps in their own way.moves and steps in their own way.– Jazz dancing is energetic and fun.Jazz dancing is energetic and fun.– Jazz consists of unique moves, fancy footwork, Jazz consists of unique moves, fancy footwork,

big leaps, and quick turns.big leaps, and quick turns.– To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong

background in ballet, because it encourages background in ballet, because it encourages grace and balance. grace and balance.

Jazz MovementsJazz Movements

A good jazz class explodes with energy.A good jazz class explodes with energy. Most jazz teachers begin with a thorough Most jazz teachers begin with a thorough

warm-up.warm-up.– Series of stretching exercises and isolation Series of stretching exercises and isolation

movements.movements. Isolations involve moving one part of the body while Isolations involve moving one part of the body while

the rest of the body remains still.the rest of the body remains still.

– Jazz dancers also practice the art of suspensionJazz dancers also practice the art of suspension This involves moving through positions instead of This involves moving through positions instead of

stopping and balancing in them.stopping and balancing in them.

– Then the class will end with a short cool downThen the class will end with a short cool down

Class StructureClass Structure

Technique is the foundation for all modern jazz Technique is the foundation for all modern jazz dance movement.dance movement.

Dancers are encouraged to add their own Dancers are encouraged to add their own personality to make each step unique and fun. personality to make each step unique and fun.

Jazz includesJazz includes– Basic turns such as chainesBasic turns such as chaines– PiquesPiques– PirouettesPirouettes– Jazz turnsJazz turns– Ballet turnsBallet turns– LeapsLeaps

Grande jetesGrande jetes Turning jumpsTurning jumps TourjetesTourjetes

Jazz StepsJazz Steps

Miles Davis1926 - 1991

St. Louis jazz trumpeter

“Hard Bop” Influenced by acid

rock and funk music, he incorporated electric instruments into his music

“Shhh - Peaceful” by Miles Davis1969

Herbie Hancock1940 - Present

Piano/keyboard player in Davis’ “second great quintet”

Embraced synthesizers

In 2007, became the second jazz musician to ever win the Album of the Year Grammy

“Rockit”

“4 A.M” by Herbie Hancock1980

Jaco Pastorius1951 - 1987

Played in Weather Report from 1976 – 1981

One of four bassists to ever be inducted into the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame

Bipolar disorder and substance abuse led to his his murder at a Carlos Santana concert

“Donna Lee” by Jaco Pastorius1976

Duke Ellington Duke Ellington ActivityActivity

Choose a piece by Duke Choose a piece by Duke Ellington and ask students to Ellington and ask students to describe what they were describe what they were listening to. Write all listening to. Write all responses on the board.responses on the board.

Add following words: Hot-Add following words: Hot-buttered, sassy, cool, slick-buttered, sassy, cool, slick-steppin, Daddy-O, ivory steppin, Daddy-O, ivory eighty-eights, press on the eighty-eights, press on the pearlies, cats and ace. Ask pearlies, cats and ace. Ask students what the words have students what the words have in common by suggesting a in common by suggesting a title for the chart. title for the chart.

Then ask the students if they Then ask the students if they can think of any more words can think of any more words that would fit the category. that would fit the category. Explain the meaning of the Explain the meaning of the words and have the students words and have the students play around and experiment play around and experiment with the words. with the words.

Activities For ChildrenActivities For Children

Have students write Have students write their favorite word or their favorite word or combinations of combinations of words on paper. words on paper.

Play a selection by Play a selection by Duke Ellington and Duke Ellington and have students use have students use the examples of word the examples of word combinations and combinations and new examples that new examples that they can think of to they can think of to create a poem about create a poem about what they are what they are hearing. hearing.

Allow students to Allow students to share their poems.share their poems.

Activity ContinuedActivity Continued

http://pbskids.org/jazz/time/1900.html

Give background on Give background on Jazz how it is Jazz how it is important in New important in New Orleans culture. Orleans culture.

Use the Princess and Use the Princess and the Frog trailer to the Frog trailer to motivate students. motivate students. Encourage them to Encourage them to get up and move to get up and move to the beats they hear. the beats they hear.

Activities ContinuedActivities Continued

After the trailer ask After the trailer ask students if they moved students if they moved fast or slow and why. fast or slow and why. Talk about beats and Talk about beats and rhythm introducing rhythm introducing tempo. tempo.

Play the trailer again but Play the trailer again but have students pick out have students pick out instruments they hear.instruments they hear.

Give each student a Give each student a different instrument and different instrument and see if they can make see if they can make different beats or different beats or tempos with that tempos with that instrument. Also create instrument. Also create different tempos with different tempos with pairs and groups.pairs and groups.

Social Studies Social Studies connection with New connection with New Orleans. Orleans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCVcVD3s43k

Activities ContinuedActivities Continued