Article
Other

Acid Jazz: But Is It Jazz?

For Students 9th - 10th
A lengthy article discussing the validity of Acid Jazz as a genre.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen to and learn about King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band here. Site includes a description and discography of the greatest early jazz band.
Website
Other

Off Jazz Terminology of Jazz Dance

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive list with definitions of jazz movements, including basic steps, leg movements, ondulations, rolls, falls, turns, jumps, and other steps.
Website
Other

Off Jazz Terminology of Jazz Dance

For Students 9th - 10th
Comprehensive list of jazz dance steps, including turns, rolls, falls, leaps, ondulations, and other steps.
Website
Other

Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago

For Students 9th - 10th
Information about the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, includes company history.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Ferdinand Jelly Roll Morton

For Students 9th - 10th
Red Hot Jazz offers a biography of jazz great, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, with selections of Morton's compositions and arrangements in Real Audio format.
Handout
Other

Jazz Dance History: Jack Cole

For Students 9th - 10th
The influence and importance of Jack Cole in the development of jazz dance in the theater, includes shows he choreographed.
Handout
Other

Dance.net: Jazz Terminology

For Students 9th - 10th
Short list of jazz steps with definitions and phonetic pronunciation guide for each.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Joe 'King' Oliver

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of one of the most prominent artists of early jazz.
Article
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archive: Origins of Big Band Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
Examines the progression from Ragtime and New Orleans jazz to Big Band.
Website
Other

Article: What Makes Modern Jazz Modern?

For Students 9th - 10th
A fairly long academic article on Modern Jazz and what "modern" really means.
Website
Other

Jazz Age Culture: Part 1

For Students 9th - 10th
Features numerous links to external sites that provide information pertaining to the flapper era, jazz and the Harlem Renaissance, prohibition, racial violence, and crime.
Website
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Jazz in Pennsylvania

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the history and influences of jazz in the state of Pennsylvania. Resource includes links to audio clips and video from artists, and stories of jazz from around the state.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Postal Museum: Music: Latin Jazz Issue

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about key aspects of Latin jazz from this captioned exhibit of a stamp issued in 2008 to celebrate it.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Portrait Gallery: Le Tumulte Noir: Paul Colin's Jazz Age Portfolio

For Students 9th - 10th
The spirit of Jazz Age Paris, as captured by French poster artist Paul Colin. Includes portraits of Josephine Baker and of other musicians and dancers of the time who were the undisputed stars of Parisian theater.
Website
Other

Jazz Improvisation Primer/ Free Improvisation

For Students 9th - 10th
A look at what makes free jazz musically unique. Contains specific examples of free rhythm and tonality.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: Ella Fitzgerald

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of Ella Fitzgerald, from her childhood as an orphan to her rise as a successful jazz singer. Includes audio (requires RealPlayer).
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong (1900 1971)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Red Hot Jazz contains a good biography of Louis Armstrong, arguably the most influential jazz musician. Very interesting and informative, also includes a picture.
eBook
The Washington Post

The Washington Post: "The History of Jazz," Chapter 1

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers the first chapter of Ted Gioia's book, "The History of Jazz." This chapter focuses on the prehistory of jazz, including the Africanization of American music, country blues and classic blues, and Scott Joplin and Ragtime.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Jazz and Math: The Fibonacci Keyboard

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Teach a lesson about the piano keyboard using the Fibonacci Sequence. Explore with your students the various relationships the Fibonacci Sequence has with music.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Jazz and Math: Improvisation Permutations

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson deals primarily with the number of rhythmic combinations that can be found in a four beat measure of music. Learners will learn through trial and error and derive a mathematical formula to calculate the number of possible...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Jazz and Math: The Beat Goes On

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson will require students to collect data through listening, counting and timing. They will use ratios, rates, and proportions to report data. They will also demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of rhythm and tempo in music.
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong Orchestra

For Students 9th - 10th
Includes brief history of Louis Armstrong and his orchestra, a photo, and a complete discography list.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: New Orleans Jazz Nat'l Historical Park: Louis Armstrong

For Students 9th - 10th
A major figure in jazz, Louis Armstrong is considered the father of jazz. Learn about his early days in New Orleans and how he developed into one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time.

Other popular searches