audio lesson plan - jazz pdf

8/8/2019 Audio Lesson Plan - Jazz PDF

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Jana P. Leonard

Lesson Plan

American Music

1

Introduction

Music in America in the Early 1920s (Copland/Gershwin) Length of Lesson (90 minutes) USII 6. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the social, economic, and

technological changes of the early twentieth century byc) examining art, literature, and music from the 1920s and 1930s, with emphasis on

Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Georgia OKeeffe, and theHarlemRenaissance.

Learning Objectives

1. Students will understand the origins of Jazz and its connection with the Harlem

Renaissance;

2. Students will be able to identify those characteristics of Jazz than separated it fromclassical music of the day;

3. Students will be able to identify works by Copland and Gershwin that uniquely definedthe American culture of the time;

4. Students will develop an understanding of the role of music in popular culture and the

historic context.

Teaching and Learning Sequence

Introduction/Anticipatory SetBuilding on prior knowledge, teacher will ask students about the things that werehappening at the turn of the 20

thcentury. This will help place the music both

contextually and sequentially:

1. What was happening in America in the early 1900s?a. Prohibitionb. Movement of African Americans into the northern industrial centersc. Roaring 20sd. Massive Immigration

2. How would this have affected music?a. People coming from other countries bringing in their folk music;b. spread of African Music (evolving into Jazz);c. Less formal events/opportunities to listen to music. Phonograph, radio,

increased movement throughout the country. Between 1923 and 1930, 60%

of American households bought radios.


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Lesson Development- Teacher will play excerpts of music and discuss the music and itscontext, as well as the key figures with the students.

A. Audio 1 Classic (Claude Debussy: Clair de Lune, Danse Tarantelle;

Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on the Theme from Paganini)1. What images come to mind when you hear this music?2. Do you have any ideas about the people who listened to this kind of music?

Wrote and performed this kind of music?

3. Explain the origin and time frame of the music; the types of typicalperformances.

a. Prior to the invention and spread of the radio, music usually fell into 2categories, folk/religious/spiritual music that was indigenous to particular

communities or nationalities and classicalthat which was composed andperformed for royalty and upper classes in concert halls.

b. Average people had little access to performed classical music.c. Many folk songs and tunes centered around religion or work rhythmic

music designed to keep time for labor.

i. Certainly the music of African Americans in the southern states fellinto this category;

ii. However, most other immigrant groups also had their own music,played on more portable, less expensive instruments than a piano or

harp.

4. All of those things that were happening movement to the cities, increase inleisure time, movement of people throughout the country, spread of mass

communication in the form of radiohad an impact on the American musicalscene. Popular music (music that the mass of Americans could enjoy)established a stronghold. The very diversity of America contributed to the

rise of several uniquely American forms of music. America began to develop

its own form of culture, less reliant on European traditions. We start to seeAmerican composers and artists who, after training in Europe, returned to

America and were affected by various aspects of American culture melting

pot, expansion (US is bigger that countries of Western Europe); less class

distinction and more varied scenery.

B. Jazz (Presentation with Audios)

1. The Blues Audio 1 (Ray Henderson: Birth of the Blues; Ma Rainey:Black Bottom Blues, Blame it on the Blues; Bessie Smith: I Aint GotNobody, The Saint Louis Blues).

a. The blues came out of the south, having their origins in African

American spirituals and work songs.b. Generally a call, a call back and then a response; using 1st, 2d, 3d,

5th chords

c. Instruments: banjo, harmonica & guitar;


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American Music

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d. Ma RaineyThe Mother of Blues (from Georgia)1) Ma Rainey was known for her very powerful vocal

abilities, energetic disposition, majestic phrasing, and a

moaning style of singing similar to folk tradition. Though

her powerful voice and disposition are not captured on herrecordings, the other characteristics are present, and most

evident on her early recordings, Bo-weevil Blues and

Moonshine Blues. Ma Rainey also recorded with LouisArmstrong in addition to touring and recording with the

Georgia Jazz Band. Ma Rainey continued to tour until 1935

when she retired to her hometown.

2) Made over 100 recordings;e. Bessie SmithThe Empress of the Blues (from Tennessee)

1) Over 160 recordings

2) Toured with Ma Rainey3) Vaudeville, Broadway, films

f. What is different about the Blues compared to the classical music

we just listened to?

g. To whom do you think the Blues would appeal?

2. DixielandAudio 2 (John Harold Kander: All that Jazz; Original Dixieland Jazz Band: Tiger Rag, Original Dixieland One-Step; LouisArmstrong: Basin Street Blues, When the Saints Go Marchin In)a. New Orleansb. The style combined earlier brass band marches, French Quadrilles,

ragtime and blues with collective, polyphonic improvisation.c. While instrumentation and size of bands can be very flexible, the

"standard" band consists of a "front line" of trumpet/cornet,

trombone and clarinet, with a rhythm section of at least two of thefollowing: guitar or banjo, string bass or Tuba, piano and drums;

d. Louis Armstrong (New Orleans, Chicago and Harlem)1) Grew up in NO2) Moved to Chicago in 1922 joined Joe King Olivers

Creole Jazz Band;

3) Played with both jazz bands and traditional orchestras,recorded with all including blues singers Ma Rainey and

Bessie Smith;

3. Chicagoland Jazz Audio 3 (Irving Berlin: Alexanders Ragtime Band,Puttin on the Ritz; George Gershwin: Fascinating Rhythm, I Got Rhythm)a. Chicago;b. Faster more up pace beat;c. Substitute guitar for banjo and string bass for tubad. More swing style


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American Music

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e. George and Ira Gershwin:1) George composer; Ira lyricist;2) Composed for classical orchestras but also Broadway3) Many compositions became jazz classics

4. Harlem Jazz Audio 4 (Jelly Roll Morton: Wolverine Blues, Ham &Eggs; Duke Ellington: Sentimental Journey, It Dont Mean a Thing)

a. Harlem, NYb. Add in piano for Harlem Stride Stylec. Apollo Theatred. Cotton Clube. Duke Ellingtonjazz, gospel, big band, popular, swing

1) Composer, pianist, big band leader;2) Raised in D.C.;3) Friends nicknamed him Duke when he was a boy due to

his goodmanners and bearing;

4) Best known as the lead group at the Cotton Club in NY,toured Europe

5. Additional questions for discussion:a. So what images come to mind when you hear the blues and jazz?b. What differences do you hear between the blues and jazz?c. Why is this style of music so appropriate for its time?d. Do you think that the rise of the blues and jazz played a role in

racial integration in this country? How?

C. CoplandAudio 5 (Rodeo: Hoedown, Appalachian Spring: Allegro, AppalachianSpring: Simple Gifts, Rodeo: Buckaroo; Fanfare for the Common Man)

1. Changing pace, Coplands pieces combined elements of classical and folk

music;2. Some of the most well enduring pieces of music evocative of the

American landscape;

3. Dean of American Composers4. Believed to be a communist sympathizer

5. Questions for discussion:

a. Have you heard any of these pieces before? (Beef, its what for

dinner commercial; fanfare for the common man);

b. What images come to mind when you hear this music?c. How different from jazz?


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D. Conclusion:

Teacher will help students begin to make real-world connections through a series

of questions:

1. What are some popular types of music today?2. What do you think this music says about what is happening in our world?

Homework

ASSIGNMENT: Each student will select a song or musical number and write a 5 paragraph

essay. The essay should contain both introductory and conclusory paragraphs. The essay should

identify the time in which the piece of music was popular and what about the piece is reflectiveof the time and society in which it was popular.

Assessment

FormativeDuring the course of the class, participation in the discussion will be notedas a part of the formative assessment.

Summative Students will be graded on the paper assigned as homework. Papers will begraded on meeting the standards of writing of an essay as well as the description of the

connection between the piece chosen and period in which it was popular.

References

1920s. www.southernmusic.net. (downloaded 11/17/2010).

AARON COPLAND. www.essentialsofmusic.com/copland.html. (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

Aaron Copland About the Composer. www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/aaron-

copland/about-the-composer/475/ . (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

About Duke Ellington. www.dukeellington.com/aboutduke.html. (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

Bessie Smith. www.redhotjazz.com/bessie.html. (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

Claude-Achille Debussy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Debussy. (downloaded11/17/2010.)

Early, G. Black Migration. www.pbs.org/jazz/places/faces_migration.htm (downloaded

11/15/2010)The Growth of Jazz. http://www.jazz123.info/the-growth-of-jazz-music.php


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Lesson Plan

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Lewis, T. A Godlike Presence: The Impact of Radio on the 1920s and 1930s. OAH Magazineof History 6 (Spring 1992).

Louis Armstrong. www.louisarmstronghouse.org. (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

Ma Rainey. www.redhotjazz.com/rainey.html. (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

The Official George & Ira Gershwin Website. www.gershwin.com (downloaded 11/17/2010.)

Radio in the 1920s. http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ug00/3on1/radioshow/1920radio.htm.

(downloaded November 15, 2010)

Musical References:

Audio 1: Clair de Lune (Claude De Bussy)Danse Tarantelle (Claude De Bussy)

Rhapsody on the Theme from Paganini (Sergei Rachmaninoff)

Audio 2: Birth of the Blues (performed by Della Reese)Black Bottom Blues (performed by Ma Rainey)

Blame it on the Blues (performed by Ma Rainey)

I Aint Got Nobody (performed by Bessie Smith)St. Louis Blues (performed by Bessie Smith)

Audio3: All That Jazz (performed by Bebe Neuworth)

Tiger Rag (performed by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band)Original Dixieland One Step (performed by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band)

Basin Street Blues (performed by Louis Armstrong)When the Saints Go Marchin In (performed by Louis Armstrong)

Audio 4: Alexanders Ragtime Band (Irving Berlin)

Puttin on the Ritz (Irving Berlin)I Got Rhythm (George Gershwin)

Fascinating Rhythm (George Gershwin)

Audio 5: Black Bottom Stomp (Jelly Roll Morton)Ham & Eggs (Jelly Roll Morton)

Sentimental Journey (Duke Ellington)

Dont Mean a Thing (Duke Ellington)

Audio 6: Rodeo: Hoedown (Aaron Copland)Appalachian Spring: Allegro (Aaron Copeland)

Appalachian Spring: Simple Gifts (Aaron Copland)Fanfare for the Common Man (Aaron Copland)

audio lesson plan - jazz pdf

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