Teaching Music in the Historical Setting

Blues and Jazz

What IS Jazz?“Man, if you have to ask what it

is, you’ll never know.”

–Louis Armstrong

Improvisation was the main source of melody

Blues Scale was widely used “Blue Note” – Lowered 5th Scale Degree

Musical Characteristics-Melody

“Blue” Note

Swing Style-Asymmetrical 8th Notes

Accent on upbeats Other Styles:

◦ Shuffle◦ Waltz◦ Ballad◦ Latin (Salsa, Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban)

Musical Characteristics-Rhythm/Style

Blues Form◦ 12-Bar form separated into three sections◦ I I I I | IV IV I I | V7 V7 I I◦ Extensions:

IV in measure 9 ii-V7 in last measure (“turnaround”) Turn mm. 9-12 into one big turnaround:

Musical Characterstics-Form

Extreme dynamics on both ends◦ Miles Davis◦ Dizzy Gillespie

Pushing the envelope of extremes

Experimenting with new sounds

Emotional vocal timbres

Musical Characteristics-Dynamics/Timbre

Extreme tempi on both ends◦ “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” – Count Basie◦ “Naima” – John Coltrane

Pushing the envelope-“As Fast as Possible”

Musical Characteristics-Tempo

Small Ensembles (Combos)◦ Horn Players (Trumpet, Sax, Trombone, etc.)◦ Rhythm Section (Piano, Bass, Guitar, Drums)◦ Sometimes included vocalist◦ Sizes Varied (duet/trios up to eight or more)

Large Ensembles (Big Band)◦ Horns (5 Saxophones, 4 Trombones, 4 Trumpets)◦ Rhythm Section (Piano, Bass, Guitar, Drums)◦ Sometimes included vocalist or “featured”

instrumentalist

Musical Characteristics-Texture/Instrumentation

How Did We Get Here?

Historical/Socio-Cultural Contexts

Map - http://bit.ly/jazzmap◦ Africa◦ Plantations◦ New Orleans◦ Chicago◦ New York◦ Los Angeles

Beginnings of Jazz

The Blues◦ Call-and-Response “work songs” on plantations◦ “Lament” style lyrics◦ Primarily string instruments (drums not allowed)

New Orleans◦ The “birthplace” of the blues◦ Louis Armstrong becomes popular

Socio-Cultural Contexts

Inter-Related Arts: Painting

Inter-Related Arts: Sculpture

Inter-Related Arts: Architecture

Additional Information

Performance PracticeVocal/Instrumental TrendsComposers

Swing Performance Practice◦ Heavy accent on beats two and four (backbeat)◦ Accented upbeats

Exploring new instrumental techniques◦ Trumpet-Growls, Shakes, ½ Valve◦ Saxophone-Altissimo Register◦ Trombone-Growls, Shakes, Glissandi◦ Came from a need to express emotion in a

different way

Performance Practice

Vocal/Instrumental Trends Remember: Jazz roots

were vocal! Instrumental jazz

became predominant Louis Armstrong

brings improv to voice Billie Holliday

continues the tradition

Duke Ellington (1899-1974)◦ Prolific bandleader/composer of jazz music◦ “Take the ‘A’ Train”◦ “Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me”◦ “It Don’t Mean a Thing…”

Count Basie (1904-1984)◦ Bandleader and composer◦ Laid-back style

Thad Jones (1923-1986)◦ Continued jazz composition into middle of century◦ Wrote for his band, along with Mel Lewis

Composers

Supportive MaterialsListening/Composition Lessons

Compare/Contrast Jazz Styles◦ Blues/Swing-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9cM3ALga80◦ Blues/Dixieland-http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_WbQYdQty0◦ Solo Piano-http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0t8WSu6Tcc Discuss diversity of Jazz

Listening Lesson #1

Links:◦ Student Handout/File: http://bit.ly/cceK3O◦ Lesson Plan: http://bit.ly/cVwgyO

Composition Assignment

Rhythmic Differences-Dave Brubeck◦ “The Duke” ◦ “Take Five”◦ “Blue Rondo a la Turk”

Discussion on use of rhythm in dances Is “Blue Rondo” easy or difficult to dance to?

Listening Lesson #2

“Goodbye! (Yesterday)”Buddy Rich Big Band