The 2017 National In-Service Conference in Dallas, TX, November 12-15, will include jazz sessions. Register today!
The 2017 NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles Jazz Ensemble will perform in Walt Disney World, Orlando, FL, November 26-29.
Jazz Education’s Unexpected Outcomes
While we are all fortunate with the type of students we have the opportunity to work with, many parents and fellow educators do not see all of the hard work it took by everyone to go from the first rehearsal to that final performance. Attention to detail with subtle nuances of style and technique did not just emerge with the talent of the students. The rehearsal process before the performance included listening lessons as well as performance techniques. Historical and contextual connections were explored as students connected through the musical compositional genius of Thad Jones, Sammy Nestico, Duke Ellington, and Hank Levy, just to name a few. One way of establishing the importance of jazz education as well as validating evidence of the hard work you and your students have demonstrated is the construction of Student Learning Outcomes (SLO)s currently used in many states.
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz Fundamentals Series
Jazz at Lincoln Center is excited to offer a series of Jazz Fundamentals videos. Join drummer Bryan Carter and his band as they explore, explain, and perform some of the basic concepts of Jazz in a fun and swinging set!
Exploring Jazz: Jazz Fundamentals from Jazz at Lincoln Center
Teaching Music in the 21st Century, with Wynton Marsalis, Part 1
Teaching Music in the 21st Century, with Wynton Marsalis, Part 2
Read more articles on teaching jazz.
7 Cool Ways to Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month
Every April, we celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month. Not every school participates for various reasons: lack of a jazz program and/or lack of understanding of jazz being some. Even without a great understanding of Jazz, this can be a great learning opportunity for you and your students to enjoy and appreciate this great music.
JAM’s Not Just a Condiment: Celebrate Jazz in April!
Each April, Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) shines a spotlight on jazz music as both an historical and a living treasure. The special month aims to draw greater public attention to the extraordinary heritage of jazz and its importance to American culture.
Hot Jazz Saturday Night is a radio program hosted by Rob Bamberger, available on WAMU-FM. Teachers can listen to the past week’s show for one week directly online, and other related stories are available well.
Check out the webinar “Building your Jazz Program from the Ground Up by David Kauffman – Fine Arts Coordinator, Allegany County Maryland.“
Bringing Jazz Into the Classrooms
Celebrate the music of the legendary Dave Brubeck Quartet as you engage students in a cross-disciplinary set of classroom projects and activities through this video series and curriculum created by Jazz at Lincoln Center!
How Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement Intertwine
Jazz is the low moan of a saxophone, the growl of a trumpet, or staccato notes on a snare drum. Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) describes the art form as “a mingling of the musical expressions of all the people who came to the United States, by choice or by force; people from Africa, Europe, Latin America, as well as people who were already living in the U.S. Jazz was created by mixing together music from field chants and spirituals, to African rhythms and folk songs.”
The Council for Jazz Education is one of NAfME’s two Societies and 14 Councils that serve various NAfME constituencies.
More Jazz Resources and Announcements.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has many great resources for learning about and celebrating jazz in April, including a poster for your classroom.
Why Every Month Should Be Jazz Appreciation Month
Eac h April, in observance of Jazz Appreciation Month, many music educators bring jazz instruction, jazz history, and other jazz activities into the classroom. Three teachers whose students were chosen for NAfME’s 2014 All-National Jazz Ensemble discuss why they believe teaching jazz throughout the school year offers valuable benefits for them and their students.