Teacher Guidelines:

1) Read the Introductions.
2) Go over the Word List with your students.
3) Play part of a Jazz CD or video for students.

After the show you can:

1) Use the Follow-up Questions in a discussion.
2) Have your students draw pictures or write an essay about what they saw and heard.

Introduction
We all know about Rock, and Hip Hop, and Country music, but many of us do
not know where our music comes from. The Story of Jazz takes us on a tour of the United States by playing its music and exploring the stories of the people who created it.

Jazz was born around 1900 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Early Jazz was a combination of Ragtime, Blues, and marching band music. Ragtime was a type of piano music played on the boats which traveled the Mississippi River. The Blues came from the workers in the fields of the Mississippi delta. The New Orleans marching bands adopted Ragtime piano and Blues harmony into their tunes and the result was early Jazz.

All music is created from three building blocks: melody, harmony, and rhythm. Melody is when you play one note after another to create a tune. Harmony is when you play notes together to create chords. Rhythm is how you move the melody and harmony through time. Jazz has another characteristic as well: improvisation––when the musicians create new melodies, harmonies, and rhythms as they play.

Jazz combines African-American improvisation and rhythm with European-American instruments and harmony to create the first truly American musical art form.

Word List

Marimba (or Vibraphone)
Bass guitar
Drum set
Ragtime
Blues
Swing
Be Bop
Latin Jazz

Show Outline

Introduction
Ragtime
Blues
Swing
Be Bop
Latin Jazz

GUIDELINES FOR FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION

Q: Ragtime was originally played on what instrument?
A: The piano.

Q: The Blues comes from what area?
A: The Mississippi delta.

Q: Jazz started in what city?
A: New Orleans.

Q: When was Jazz born?
A: Around 1900.

Q: Early Jazz evolved from what three types of music?
A: Ragtime, Blues, and New Orleans marching band.

Q: Name the three building blocks of music.
A: Melody, Harmony, and Rhythm.

Q: The most important characteristic of Jazz is?
A: Improvisation.

Q: What is improvisation?
A: When the musicians create new melodies, harmonies, and rhythms as they play.

Q: In the 1930’s and 40’s, Swing was the most popular music in America. This was also called the ________ Era.
A: Big Band.

Q: Latin Jazz is a combination of?
A: North American improvisation and Latin American rhythms.

Q: Why is it important to listen to Jazz?
A: Because it is part of our heritage as Americans.