JAM: Jazz Appreciation Month
"I
can only hope that one day America will recognize that our indigenous music--jazz--is
the heart and soul of all popular music, and that we cannot afford to let its
legacy." --Quincy
Jones
The National
Museum of American History has designated April as Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM).
In partnership with the National Endowment for the
Humanities as well as several other national organizations, the Smithsonian
will sponsor a number of programs to promote jazz, including concerts, lectures,
educational materials, and an exhibition. Details about events and materials related
to JAM can be found on Smithsonian Jazz.
April was chosen for JAM in recognition of the birthdays of jazz greats
such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Gerry Mulligan, and Tito Puente. You
and your students can learn more about these figures at the EDSITEment-reviewed
website JAZZ, originally created as an accompaniment
to the ten-part documentary by Ken Burns that aired last year on PBS. The film
and website tell the story of the origin of this uniquely American art form--the
people who created it and the artists who performed it. Not simply a music appreciation
course, the JAZZ website and documentary
explore how the music reflected the historical periods that produced it, including
two world wars, a Great Depression, and the decades of racial prejudice and Jim
Crow laws that shaped the music and dictated who heard it and when.
The
JAZZ website also includes lesson plans
appropriate for all grade levels that teachers can use in their classrooms. The
activities and lesson plans are designed to help teachers use the video series
and companion website in a variety of curriculum areas. The JAZZ
website also provides audio and video clips as well as transcripts of interviews
with the musicians and scholars who contributed to the production of this film.
In addition, PBS has developed another companion site, Jazz
Kids, with young children in mind.
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