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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.
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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.
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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. Students will learn through trial and error and derive a mathematical formula to calculate the number of possible...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs: Jazz and Math: The Beat Goes On

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This instructional activity 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...
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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.
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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.
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Website
Other

Oculus Magazine: Free Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
A short description of the free jazz movement, and a timeline of important movements in jazz.
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park: Sidney Bechet

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover more about the life of jazz pioneer Sidney Bechet with this well written site. With his colorful personality and unique style, you will appreciate the contributions this musician had toward the development of jazz.
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Activity
Stanford University

Riverwalk Jazz: Speakeasies, Flappers, and Red Hot Jazz: Music of Prohibition

For Students 9th - 10th
Script of a radio broadcast about Prohibition and Jazz Age America comments on black market bootlegging, jazz music, speakeasies, flappers, and women`s suffrage.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns: Jazz in Time: Roaring Twenties

For Students 9th - 10th
Essay considers the impact of jazz on American society in the 1920s.
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Article
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: Wynton Marsalis

For Students 9th - 10th
Providing information part of a PBS presentation, "Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns," this website offers a brief article on Wynton Marsalis, a musician known for his accomplishments in both jazz and classical music.
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Website
Central Home

Central Home: History of Jazz Dance

For Students 9th - 10th
Ths site describes the growth and basic elements of jazz music and dance.
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Article
Siteseen

Siteseen: American Historama: The Jazz Age

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive overview with many interesting facts and information on the Jazz Age, a period in U.S. history associated with exuberance and the introduction of jazz music.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Modern Jazz Quartet (Mjq)

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ), an American musical ensemble noted for delicate percussion sonorities, innovations in jazz forms, and consistently high-performance standards sustained over a...
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Jazz Age 1919 1929: Prosperity and Popular Entertainment

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines the transformation of American culture and lifestyle through movies, sports and the automobile, particularly the Model T Ford.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: Jazz Age: Redefining the Nation 1919 1929: Transformation and Backlash

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines the role nativism played in 1920s America, the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan, the disconnect between urban and rural lifestyles and values, and the fractious debate over evolution that was highlighted in the Scopes trial.
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Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

For Students 9th - 10th
Lots of information on Benny Goodman with links to related subjects: his music, his band members, his bands and orchestras.
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eBook
OpenStax

Open Stax: The Jazz Age 1919 1929: Republican Ascendancy: Politics in the 1920s

For Students 11th - 12th
Examines the positive and negative aspects of Warren G. Harding's presidency, how Calvin Coolidge won the election of 1920, and his pro-business agenda.
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Article
Other

Is Acid Jazz a Continuation of the Jazz Phenomenon?

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a research paper debating whether or not acid jazz is a continuation of traditional jazz music. It provides a history of how acid jazz started and includes many references for more research.
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Handout
Other

606 Club: Jazz Styles

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a definition of the various types of jazz styles. A short definition of free jazz is provided close to the end of the page, along with several other forms, such as be-bop, west coast, hard-bop and mainstream.
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Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: The Origins of Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
Red Hot Jazz outlines the origins of jazz, taking a look at the blend of cultures that existed in New Orleans at the turn of the century when jazz first emerged as a unique musical form. Includes links to additional information about...
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Website
Other

All About Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
Has reviews, interviews, and articles. Of special interest is the jazz time-line.
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Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Duke Ellington (1899 1974)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a good biography of Duke Ellington, an influential and famous jazz pianist. Pictures are provided along with links for additional information.
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Handout
Other

Louisiana Digital Library: Louisiana State Museum Jazz Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of images and audio clips of jazz in Louisiana.

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