Supplies Needed:

1. Computer with speakers

 

Introduction to Jazz Music

Start out by saying that the lesson will mostly focus on jazz pieces.  In order to engage them, ask them to list some of the qualities of jazz music, famous composers, where they heard it in their youth, or anything else they want to say. 

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Listening to Recordings

Tell them to think of images or feelings that they experience by listening to the following recordings (they are not famous pieces, so the audience members will not be familiar with their actual titles and the title will not be obvious to them).  Click the click the links under the descriptions of the pieces for recordings:

 

• Relatively upbeat swing music

• Mellow jazz music – start at 49:30

• Romantic music

• Lively band music -- start at 40: 23

• Soft saxophone music

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Play each song for about 2 minutes.  After each song, you may want to prompt them to think of a title for the piece based on the feelings the music evokes, then ask each of them to tell the group the title they decided on.  Alternatively, you may wish to go around the room and ask each person how the music made them feel – happy, sad, angry, etc.

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Going More In-Depth With a Few Songs

Gershwin Piano Prelude 1 -- start at 36:09.  Ask them about Gershwin in order to engage them – they will talk about his most famous compositions, and you can play them on YouTube and have a discussion on them.  Tell them that this is just called a “piano prelude” and you want them to come up with a more creative name for it.

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Scott Joplin Euphonic Sounds.  Go through the same drill with them and ask them to tell you about Joplin’s music.  Tell them to come up with a better title depending on the feeling they get from the piece

 

Questions to Wrap Up

• Did you already know the song?

• How did that piece make you feel?

• Did it remind you of anything?

• What adjectives would you use to describe the piece?

• If you imagined a mental photo describing the piece, what was it?

• How do you think the composer was feeling when he wrote the piece?