This resource is designed for jazz enthusiasts and musicians who want to have a better understanding of the language of jazz. To successfully navigate this all-in-one jazz theory course, you should be versed in basic music theory concepts, such as those taught in Books 1 and 2 of "Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory." With these books, you will learn the essentials of jazz music through concise lessons, practice your jazz music reading and writing skills in the exercises, improve your listening and ear training skills with the CDs, and test your knowledge with the review that completes each unit. You are encouraged to play and/or sing the musical examples throughout, at first with the recording, then on your own. Welcome to an exhilarating journey into the world of jazz!

Developed by "Music Alive" magazine, this handy all-in-one resource includes a reproducible student article, reproducible activity pages (including games and other enrichment), listening examples on CD and a detailed National Standards-based lesson plan in each section. Topics include "Birth Of The Blues" (W.C. Handy), "Early Blues Guitarists," "Women And The Blues," "Now And Then" ("Ma" Rainey, Dinah Washington, Aretha Franklin), "The Blues Begin To Rock" (Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Eric Clapton), "Blues Across America," and a special section on blues greats Bessie Smith, John Lee Hooker and B.B. King.

Here's an exciting new jazz curriculum, perfect for middle school, upper elementary and junior high music classes! This valuable multi-media package conveys the rich and colorful history of jazz music. Written by renowned trumpeter and jazz education advocate Wynton Marsalis, in consultation with Sandy Feldstein, this course of study is ideal for any class situation. Marsalis' insightful commentary is sure to help students grasp the essence of this uniquely American art form. The complete "Jazz for Young People Curriculum" offers a comprehensive teacher's guide, 30 student guides, a 48-minute VHS video, a 10-CD audio set, as well as a CD-ROM containing transcripts of the narration. The student guide brings the history of jazz to life with an emphasis on major figures in jazz music and offers a wide range of written activities to reinforce concepts taught. The CD recordings are truly exceptional! With Wynton Marsalis' narration, the complex elements of jazz performance are broken down in segments that are easy for students to understand. Performances by the "Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra" ensure your students will hear authentic recordings of top quality. The VHS video "In The Studio" features today's top performers playing jazz classics in a variety of styles. Modern recordings of authentic early jazz music are a most welcome alternative to the scratchy recordings that have been the norm for years. The curriculum is available as a complete set, with additional student guides sold separately. Teaching jazz just got easier!

In this collection, teachers and students will explore the stories of 17 legendary jazz artists who have enriched our lives with their incredible music. The jazz legends included span the entire twentieth century, from early New Orleans jazz through the Golden Age of Swing, plus the avant-garde and jazz fusion eras from Louis Armstrong to Herbie Hancock. Fun yet informative, this book will inspire a special appreciation for jazz.

In 1974, audiences for the film "The Sting" left theaters humming the effervescent music of Scott Joplin. Discover what life was like for this African-American musician at the turn of the twentieth century. Dennis Kobray portrays a friend and fan of Scott Joplin, whose Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer earned him the title "King of Ragtime."

George Gershwin was the epitome of the American success story. The son of immigrants, this self-taught icon of music was raised on the streets of New York. He grew up to write music that captured the American spirit. Beloved melodies Rhapsody In Blue, I Got Rhythm and Swanee are performed by Dennis Kobray in this dynamic portrayal of one of America's most treasured composers.

Enjoy this classic with your students, offered as "a labor of two loves -Orff Schulwerk and jazz!" A compelling case for including jazz in every child's education is presented through a sequential approach for teaching it to all ages. Games, songs, speech pieces, body percussion, and movement activities are included for children between 3 and 14 years of age, but could be used with beginners of all ages. Roots music, jazz blues, jazz standards, and jazz compositions incorporate the use of Orff instruments and other types of ensembles. Key historical, cultural, and aesthetic background is presented, along with essential theory; also included is a middle school jazz curriculum with sample student work. Teachers are encouraged to use the ideas presented and take whatever serves their needs or attracts their interest in the moment. A summary of the practical material is given at the end of the book..