As a busy music teacher, you’re always on the lookout for fresh and engaging lesson ideas and teaching resources to inspire your middle school music students. With Jazz Music Month just around the corner, now is the perfect time to infuse some swing into your general music curriculum with this collection of Jazz Appreciation Month activities. Jazz music, with its dynamic rhythms, expressive melodies, and rich history, offers a wealth of opportunities for musical exploration and learning.
In this blog post, you’ll explore a variety of jazz music lesson ideas designed to help you celebrate Jazz Music Month in style and captivate your students’ imaginations. From spotlighting jazz musicians to delving into the history of jazz music and using jazz standards to teach the elements of music, we’ve got you covered with simple yet effective strategies and lesson plans to make this Jazz Music Month one to remember.
What is Jazz Music?
Jazz music is a musical genre that is characterized by syncopated rhythms, expressive melodies, and intricate harmonies. Its musical history is rooted in African American culture. Jazz music emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and was the blending of musical elements from African music with European harmonies and instrumentation. Jazz music encompasses a wide range of styles, including swing, bebop, fusion, and avant-garde, and often features improvisation as a central element. With its emphasis on creativity, spontaneity, and collaboration, jazz music remains a vibrant and influential art form that continues to evolve and inspire musicians around the world.
5 Reasons Why you Should Jazz Music in Your Music Curriculum
As a music teacher you know that introducing you music students to jazz music is vital as it offers the opportunity to study the rich tapestry of cultural heritage, musical diversity, and historical musical significance from the United States. By studying Jazz music in your classroom, your music students not only expand their musical knowledge but also gain insights into the social and cultural forces that have shaped American society.
There are 5 reasons why teaching Jazz music should be an important part of your music education curriculum. These include:
Cultural Awareness
Jazz music is deeply rooted in American history and culture, serving as a reflection of social, political, and cultural changes throughout the 20th century. By learning about jazz, your music students will gain a deeper understanding of the diverse cultural influences that have shaped American society.
Musical Diversity
Jazz music encompasses a wide range of styles, from the swinging rhythms of big band jazz to the complex harmonies of bebop and the experimental sounds of jazz fusion. Introducing students to jazz music helps to expose them to diverse musical elements, expanding their musical vocabulary and appreciation for different genres beyond their own musical preferences.
Creativity and Improvisation
Jazz music is renowned for its emphasis on improvisation, allowing musicians to express themselves freely and spontaneously. Teaching students about jazz encourages creativity and fosters an understanding of improvisational techniques, empowering them to explore their own musical ideas and take risks in their performances.
Historical Perspective
Studying jazz music provides your music students with insights into the historical context in which the music was created, including the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Civil Rights Movement. By examining the social and political forces that shaped jazz, students will develop a deeper appreciation for the music and its role in shaping American society.
Cross-Curricular Connections
Jazz music offers so many opportunities for interdisciplinary learning, connecting music with subjects such as history, literature, and social studies. Exploring the cultural and historical context of jazz can enhance students’ critical thinking skills and encourage them to make connections between different academic disciplines.
3 Jazz Musicians Spotlight Lesson Ideas
One simple way to Incorporating jazz musicians into your general music classroom doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are three simple yet effective lesson ideas to spotlight jazz musicians and their contributions.
Jazz Music Biography Presentations
Jazz musician biography research assignments are always a great way to get your music students learning about Jazz Music. Try dividing your music students into small groups and assign each group a different jazz musician to research. Provide them with resources that they will need such as links to reputable sites that have biographies, music recordings, and videos to help them learn about the jazz musician’s life, career, and musical style. Then, have each group create a short presentation to share with the class, highlighting key facts, notable performances, and the musician’s influence on jazz music. If you want to add in a little something extra, why not have your students create a podcast about the jazz musician that they have selected to study and present on!
If you would like to make this easier on yourself, try this bundle of teaching resources that has both a printable and digital Google Slide Activities version for your students to use. It includes biography research pages, links to suggested music to study for each Jazz musician as well as Elements of Music Listening questions to use while studying each jazz musician.
Link to the Jazz Musicians Study Bundle here
Jazz Music Listening Journals
Another simple lesson is to introduce your students to the music of jazz musicians through listening journals. For this your can carefully choose and select a variety of recordings featuring different jazz musicians and their iconic songs. Ask students to listen to each recording and write down their musical observations, including the mood of the music, notable instruments or techniques, and any emotions or images evoked by the music. This activity not only exposes students to a diverse range of jazz musicians but also encourages active listening and critical thinking skills.
Another resources that you might like to try for this activity is the Jazz Music Listening Worksheets. This collection of worksheets includes links to a wide variety of jazz music styles and musicians, and each of the Elements of Music Listening Worksheets can be sued with any piece of music you choose to study!
Link to the Jazz Music Listening Worksheets here
Jazz Musician Trading Cards
Tap into your students’ creativity with a hands-on activity by letting the create their own jazz musician trading cards. Provide templates or blank index cards for students to design their own trading cards featuring jazz musicians. Encourage them to include information such as the musician’s name, instrument, birthplace, notable achievements, and a brief description of their musical style. Once the trading cards are complete, students can share them with their classmates, trading and discussing the jazz musicians they’ve learned about.
If you would like a set of printable posters that are ready-made and easy to use for this activity, try this collection of Jazz Musician Posters. There are 2 printable versions – one color and wone black and white. To use for trading cards, simply print 4 posters to a page so that they are small enough to use as a trading card, then get your students to research and add the important details about each Jazz musician on the back of the card. if you use the black and white option, your students can color their cards in to show their creativity.
With these simple lesson ideas, you can shine a spotlight on jazz musicians in your general music classroom, fostering appreciation for their music and inspiring curiosity about jazz history and culture.
Below is a list of 20 Famous Jazz Musicians that your students might want to study during Jazz Appreciation Month
- Louis Armstrong
- Duke Ellington
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Miles Davis
- Billie Holiday
- John Coltrane
- Charlie Parker
- Sarah Vaughan
- Thelonious Monk
- Nina Simone
- Dizzy Gillespie
- Benny Goodman
- Count Basie
- Carmen McRae
- Stan Getz
- Chick Corea
- Mahalia Jackson
- Wynton Marsalis
- Esperanza Spalding
- Herbie Hancock
3 Jazz Music History Timeline Ideas
Another way to get you can help your students to learn about Jazz music is by creating a History of Jazz Music Timeline. Here are three straightforward lesson ideas to help you get started.
Jazz Music Timeline Collage
Provide your middle school and general music students with a large piece of paper or poster board and ask them to create a visual timeline of key events and milestones in the history of jazz music. Encourage them to include important dates, such as the birth of influential jazz musicians, the release of landmark jazz albums, and significant events in jazz history, such as the founding of jazz festivals or the establishment of jazz education programs. Students can use images, drawings, and text to illustrate each event, creating a vibrant and informative timeline collage.
Jazz Music Interactive Timeline Activity
Turn your music classroom into a living history museum with an interactive timeline activity. Divide your students into small groups and assign each group a different period or theme in jazz history, such as the birth of jazz in New Orleans, the Harlem Renaissance, or the emergence of bebop. Provide them with materials such as index cards, markers, and images related to their assigned topic, and challenge them to create a timeline display showcasing key events and figures. Students can then present their timelines to the class, discussing the significance of each event and its impact on the development of jazz music.
Jazz Music Digital Timeline Project
Embrace technology with a digital timeline project that allows students to explore jazz history in a multimedia format. Have students use online tools such as Google Slides, Canva, or even PowerPoint to create interactive timelines featuring images, videos, audio clips, and text. Instruct your students to include important dates, events, and figures in jazz history, along with brief descriptions or explanations for each entry. Encourage creativity and critical thinking as students design their digital timelines, making connections between different periods and styles of jazz music.
Possible Things to Include in the Timeline:
- Births and deaths of influential jazz musicians
- Release dates of landmark jazz albums
- Significant events in jazz history (e.g., the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance)
- Developments in jazz styles and genres (e.g., swing, bebop, fusion)
- Establishment of jazz festivals, clubs, and educational institutions
If you are looking for some more Jazz Music lesson ideas, read this blog post!
Link to 9 Music Appreciation Resources to Teach the Background of Jazz Music here.
Using Jazz Music Standards to Teach the Elements of Music
Jazz music offers a treasure trove of musical opportunities for developing students’ understanding of the Elements of Music and honing their listening skills in the general music classroom. Here are three accessible lesson ideas that you could use to integrate jazz music into your curriculum through the use of the Elements of Music.
If you would like to know more about the Elements of Music, click here to read this blog post
Elements of Music Listening Analysis of Jazz Standards
Select a few jazz standards and guide students through an analysis of each piece using the Elements of Music. While listening to the music, get your students to focus on each of the elements such as melody, harmony, rhythm, form, dynamics, and timbre, discussing how these elements are utilized in jazz music.
For instance, examine how syncopation creates rhythmic interest in “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington or how improvisation adds spontaneity and creativity to “Autumn Leaves.” By dissecting jazz standards through the lens of the Elements of Music, students will deepen their understanding of both musical concepts and jazz repertoire.
Make this easier on yourself, and try the Elements of Music Listening Questions for Song Analysis Bundle. This versatile music teaching resource is something that you will use again and again, you just need to change the music!
Link to the Elements of Music Listening Questions Bundle here.
Comparative Listening Exercises
Engage students in comparative listening exercises using different recordings of the same jazz standard. Select multiple audio recordings of a jazz standard such as “Summertime” or “All Blues” that have been performed by various jazz artists. Have students listen attentively to each recording and identify differences and similarities in interpretation, instrumentation, improvisation, stylistic elements and how the elements of music are used. Encourage discussions on how the different jazz performers bring their unique artistic flair to the same piece of music, fostering critical listening skills and appreciation for musical diversity.
Guided Listening Journals
Another way that you can extend your students is to use guided listening journals to encourage active listening and reflection on jazz standards. Provide students with a list of 10 jazz standards to study and listen to, including classics like “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck, “So What” by Miles Davis, and “Blue Monk” by Thelonious Monk.
For each jazz standard, get your students to answer the listening questions for the Elements of Music, such as identifying the main melody, analyzing harmonic progressions, noting rhythmic patterns, and describing the overall mood or atmosphere of the music. By guiding students through focused listening experiences, you’ll help to develop their analytical listening skills and deepen their appreciation for jazz music.
List of 10 Jazz Standards to Study and Listen to:
- “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck
- “So What” by Miles Davis
- “Blue Monk” by Thelonious Monk
- “Autumn Leaves” by Joseph Kosma
- “Take the A Train” by Duke Ellington
- “All Blues” by Miles Davis
- “Summertime” by George Gershwin
- “Stella by Starlight” by Victor Young
- “My Favorite Things” by Richard Rodgers
- “Round Midnight” by Thelonious Monk
By incorporating these simple jazz music listening lesson ideas while exploring a diverse selection of jazz standards, you’ll provide your students with valuable opportunities to deepen their understanding of the Elements of Music while cultivating a lifelong love and appreciation for jazz music.
3 Ways to Use Jazz Standards to Perform in Your Music Class
Incorporating jazz standards into your general music classroom is an excellent way to develop performance skills and foster a love for jazz music among your students. Here are three practical music lesson ideas that require minimal preparation and utilize classroom instruments such as the ukulele, guitar, keyboard, singing, and drums/percussion.
Chord Progressions
Introduce students to jazz standards with simple chord progressions that can be played on ukulele or guitar. Choose easy-to-play jazz standards such as “Summertime” or “Blue Monk” and teach students basic chord shapes or strumming patterns. Provide chord charts and lead sheets to assist students in learning the songs, and encourage them to play along with recordings or backing tracks. This hands-on approach not only develops students’ proficiency on string instruments but also instills confidence in performing jazz music.
An easy way to introduce students to playing chord progressions is through the 12 Bar Blues. This simple 12-bar blues chord progression is easy to play, and easy for your students to start to become jazz improvisers themselves! Once you have introduced the chords to play, encourage your students to think of ways that they can improvise with rhythm, strumming patterns, how they play each chord, and even with instrument performing combinations.
If you would like some resources that are ready to use for both the guitar and ukulele, try the bundles that are linked below! Each part of the bundle has chord charts and play along tracks to use.
Keyboard Melodies and Harmonies
Explore jazz standards on the keyboard by teaching students iconic melodies and harmonies. Select jazz standards with memorable melodies, such as “Take Five” or “My Favorite Things,” and demonstrate how to play them on the keyboard using simple fingerings or hand positions. Encourage students to experiment with dynamics, articulation, and expression as they perform the melodies, and provide opportunities for improvisation or variation. By learning to play jazz melodies on the keyboard, students enhance their keyboard skills while experiencing the joy of jazz music firsthand.
There are a lot of sites where you can purchase sheet music for your students. Personally, I like to find sheet music that includes the name of the notes on the score – this helps remove the barrier of not being able to read sheet music for my students, and gets them playing!
I buy a lot of music form this site, I do not have an affiliation with them at all, it is just a great site with a lot of music to choose from!
Link to musicnotes.com here
Vocal Jazz Ensemble
Engage students in vocal jazz ensemble performances by teaching them jazz standards with singable melodies and harmonies. Choose jazz standards that lend themselves well to group singing, such as “All of Me” or “Fly Me to the Moon,” and teach students the melody, harmonies, and vocal techniques such as scat singing or vocal improvisation.
If you have the variety of voices, divide your students into vocal sections (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and rehearse the songs together, focusing on blend, balance, and musical expression. Encourage students to add percussive vocal sounds or vocal embellishments to enhance the performance. Vocal jazz ensemble performances not only develop students’ vocal skills but also foster teamwork, cooperation, and artistic expression.
List of 10 Easy-to-Play Jazz Standards for Classroom Instruments
Other ways that you can get your students appreciating jazz music is through group or class ensemble performances of jazz standards. Below is a list of 10 songs that you might want to try this Jazz Music Month! When choosing a song to play, consider the instruments your students can play, as well as their performance skills level. You will want to make sure that everyone is included, so choose what works best for your own students!
- “Summertime” (Key: Am)
- “Autumn Leaves” (Key: Em)
- “Blue Monk” (Key: Bb)
- “All of Me” (Key: C)
- “Fly Me to the Moon” (Key: Am)
- “Take Five” (Key: Dm)
- “My Favorite Things” (Key: Em)
- “Satin Doll” (Key: C)
- “C Jam Blues” (Key: C)
- “Watermelon Man” (Key: Fm)
As you gear up to celebrate Jazz Music Month in your general music classroom, remember that jazz music has the power to inspire, educate, and uplift music students from elementary school to high school. By incorporating these engaging lesson ideas into your music appreciation curriculum, you’ll not only introduce your students to the vibrant world of jazz music but also help to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for its musical beauty and creativity. Whether you’re exploring the lives of prominent and influential jazz musicians, tracing the evolution of jazz music through history, or diving deep into the elements of music through listening to jazz standards, you’re sure to create memorable learning experiences that will stick with your students long after Jazz Music Month has come to an end. So grab your instruments, strike up the band, and let the sounds of jazz music fill your classroom with joy and excitement this Jazz Music Month!
Until next time
Happy Teaching
Julia from Jooya
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