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Article
PBS

Pbs: Black and Blue: Jazz in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Ralph Ellison was a musician who later became a writer. His book Invisible Man is written like a jazz composition. In this lesson, students will interpret key themes and concepts in Invisible Man that are also found in jazz music.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Marsalis, Wynton

For Students 9th - 10th
This concise encyclopedia article tells about Wynton Marsalis as both a classical and jazz musician. There is a link to his own website.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Mingus, Charles

For Students 9th - 10th
In this encyclopedia entry, you learn about Charles Mingus, jazz bassist and composer.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Monk, Thelonius

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief account of Thelonius Monk, jazz pianist, and his influence on the jazz scene.
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Website
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
Lots of information on jazz bands and musicians at this RedHotJazz.com site.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Sun Ra

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry features Sun Ra, a black American jazz composer and keyboard player who led a free jazz big band known for its innovative instrumentation and the theatricality of its performances.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Lena Horne

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS profiles American jazz singer and actress Lena Horne's life and music. Includes video.
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Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Scott Joplin

For Students 9th - 10th
Considered the "King Of Ragtime", Scott Joplin is introduced in this informative web page. Learn more about his background and his music.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Rex Stewart

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Rex Stewart, a black American jazz musician unique for playing the cornet, rather than the trumpet, in big bands as well as small groups throughout his career. His mastery of expressive...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Jimmy Smith

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Jimmy Smith, an American musician who integrated the electric organ into jazz, thereby inventing the soul-jazz idiom, which became popular in the 1950s and '60s.
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Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: William Grant Still

For Students 3rd - 8th
This resource describes how William Grant Still (1895-1978 CE) started out playing the violin and then began teaching himself to play other string instruments as well as the oboe, clarinet, and saxophone. His most famous work is...

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