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Interactive
PBS

Pbs Kids Go: Chuck Vanderchuck "Something Something" Explosion!

For Students 9th - 10th
Interactive site that teaches kids about jazz, jazz instruments, and writing jazz music. Includes games,videos, and lots of great sounds.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Dizzy Gillespie

For Students 3rd - 8th
Dizzie Gillespie helped create a new form of modern jazz called be-bop. It was the predecessor of hip-hop that is so popular today.
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Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Billy Eckstine

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn of the historical contributions of jazz musician, band leader, and Pennsylvania native, Billy Eckstine in this succinct biography.
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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke Ellington

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site provides audio clips, photos, and biographical information of this legendary composer and performer. A match game teaches and tests your knowledge of Ellington.
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Article
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: Glenn Miller

For Students 9th - 10th
This site offers a short biography of the great musical composer Glenn Miller. Includes information on his backgrounds, as well as his musical achievements.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Jazz Giant Louis Armstrong

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The Library of Congress takes a jump back in time to examine the life and career of jazz innovator Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. Armstrong is known for his amazing talent as a jazz trumpeter and for his "scat" singing. This site will give...
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Website
Other

All About Jazz: Arturo Sandoval

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Arturo Sandoval and his life in Cuba and later in America.
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Website
Other

Flemenco World: The First Solo Recordings, Paco and Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides an excerpt from Paco Sevilla's book "Paco de Lucia: A New Tradition for the Flamenco Guitar" which tell of Paco de Lucia's first solo recordings.
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Article
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archive: James Fletcher Henderson

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography, discography, suggested reading, and links to Fletcher Henderson's contemporaries.
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Article
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archive; Thomas "Tommy" Dorsey

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Tommy Dorsey with links to his contemporaries, a discography, filmography, and suggested reading.
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Handout
Other

Jazz Roots: James Reese Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a detailed account of Lieutenant Jim Europe's life as a musician, his performances in New York City, and his impact upon the music scene. Includes links to relevant people, photos, and a personal account by a witness of...
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Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Musical Harlem

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge offers a great unit for introducing jazz to students. Its use of Harlem as the "glue" which binds together elements such as jazz history and jazz terminology, makes it particularly effective for the...
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Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two of the greatest jazz composers, collaborated on hundreds of works. As you explore this exhibition, you will have an opportunity to view original music scores, listen to audio clips, and view videos...
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Handout
Other

The Official John Coltrane Site

For Students 9th - 10th
Considered to be one of the giants of jazz, John Coltrane is featured on this official website. Featured on this site is a biography, discography and pictures.
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Handout
Other

Down Beat: John Coltrane

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information, photos, and a discography of jazz great John Coltrane, whose work in the 1960s included excursions into free jazz.
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Website
Other

The Official Miles Davis Site

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the famous jazz musician Miles Davis. Links to an extensive biography, music, pictures, and more.
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Modernist Portraits: F. Scott Fitzgerald

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald draws on his ability to realistically portray life during the "Jazz Age," a phrase coined by Fitzgerald. "F. Scott Fitzgerald Activities" offers related materials.
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Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Esperanza Spalding

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of jazz musician, singer and songwriter, Esperanza Spalding.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Program Notes Rhapsody in Blue

For Students 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This PDF is the Program Notes from The New York Philharmonic's production of "Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin. It provides information about Gershwin and his writing of the "jazz concerto." It is...
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Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Hazel Scott

For Students 9th - 10th
Jazz pianist and singer Hazel Scott was not only the first African-American woman to host her own television show, but she also bravely stood up to the House Un-American Activities Committee and the Hollywood studio machine.
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Website
Other

Louis Armstrong Discography

For Students 9th - 10th
Venture into the vast recording career of the father of jazz, Louis Armstrong(1901-2001 CE). This site lists in detail many of the recordings made by Satchmo.
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Website
Other

Oscar Peterson's Official Web Site

For Students 9th - 10th
On Oscar Peterson's official web site, you can find biographical information, music samples, lists of everything he has published, his journal and photos of him with other jazz greats.
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Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Sonny Rollins

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Sonny Rollins, a jazz soloist who plays tenor saxophone. He is considered to be the greatest living jazz soloist whose breadth and depth of talent seems to know no bounds. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
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Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Wynton Marsalis

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. A musical prodigy, he began playing in orchestras while still in high school. He later won the Pulitzer Prize in Music. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.

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