Grades: 4-8 Subject areas: Music, History, Language Arts, and Theatre Estimated time of completion: 6 - 50 minute sessions
Summary:
Students will explore the lives of various jazz musicians. They will become familiar with the social and
historical events that were present during the lives of these individuals. They will listen to the music of the
artists and become knowledgeable about their styles. This activity will culminate in the production of a
news/talk show created and performed by the students highlighting the lives of these musical figures.
Objectives:
Students will listen to, analyze, and describe music.
Students will gain an understanding of music in relation to history and culture.
Students will gain experience in theatre arts skills.
Students will gain experience in the general skills and strategies of writing.
Students will gain experience in the general skills and strategies of reading.
Students will use the Internet to do research.
Materials:
Computer(s) with Internet access will be used for online activity and research
Available library resources
Available jazz recordings
Available video equipment
Writing materials
Procedure:
Access the Jazz Greats component of the PBS Kids jazz website. As a class, read some of
the biographical material
on the musicians found there. Use the questions below to spark discussion
about the information they have just been exploring.
What did these musicians share in common?
What were the events and/or social influences that shaped their music?
Ask the students if any of them share anything in common with these musicians
(i.e. play the same instrument, live or have lived in the same region/city as the musician, etc.)
Move to the Future Jazz Greats area. Read some of the student submissions.
Share any thoughts the students have on these:
Are there any experiences in this section that they can personally relate to? What? Why?
What comparisons can you make with the musical experiences read in the student
submissions in Future Jazz Greats and the biographies in Jazz Greats?
Explain to the class that they are going to be creating a talk show. The focus of this show is j
azz and they will be interviewing famous historical and contemporary jazz personalities. Students will
choose several jazz musicians to research. These will be some of the guests on the show. After the
personalities are selected, divide students into groups to begin researching them. (The number of
personalities and students assigned to each will depend on class size and available computer access
and resources).
Research can be done online, at home, the library, etc. All students will contribute to the scripting
to be used by the hosts. This will be based upon their research. Students should carefully consider the
different perspectives they were exposed to in the Jazz Greats and Future Jazz Greats pages, and
create interview questions that will reveal biographical, historical, and social/cultural events prevalent during the musicians' lives, which are/were influences on their music.
Students should have listened to (and may incorporate into the show) sound bites/recordings of the
famous musician's music.
When research is completed, students will select individuals to play the parts of the musicians they
have studied. A host and co-host will also be selected. Students will perform this show in an available
venue (i.e. for another music class, parent, etc.)
Written research will be handed into the teacher for evaluation. This can take the form deemed
appropriate by the teacher (notes collected during research siting sources, reports including resources, etc.)
Assessment:
Students should have completed all assignments and actively participated in all discussions.
Teacher assessment of student's knowledge on various musical figures through observation and
anecdotal notes of performance.
Student evaluation of project:
Was enough information shared about the musician during the interview?
If not, what else should have been included?
Were audio musical examples used?
What were the strong points in the presentation? Weak points?
Suggest on area that could be improved and how you would do it?
What was the most outstanding/interesting thing you learned during this process?
Extensions and Adaptations
This presentation could be video taped and shown (in whole or segments) as part of the school
news and/or in other classrooms.
Commercials (aural and/or video) advertising the show could also be taped. These commercials
should be related to upcoming school events (public service announcements) or musically relate.
(I.e. commercial for a fictitious brand of the instrument played by the guest on that segment of the show).
Students could write theme music for the show and include it at the beginning and in
advertisements.
Interview local jazz musicians. Videotape these interviews to be used on the show.
Invite these musicians to come on the show "live" and meet with the class and play for the students.
Relevant National Standards from the Mid Continent Regional Educational Library (McRel):
Music
Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
History
Understands the folklore and other cultural contributions from various regions of the
United States and how they helped to form a national heritage.
Language Arts
Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of writing.
Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of reading.
Gathers and uses information for research purposes.
Technology
Knows the characteristics and uses of computer hardware and software including the Internet.
Theatre
Demonstrates competence in writing scripts.
Uses acting skills.
Designs and produces informal and formal productions.
