RESOURCE:

Dizzy Gillespie's B–flat Trumpet

Grade Range: K-12
Resource Type(s): Primary Source, Artifacts
Date Posted: 1/29/2009

This custom-made "Silver Flair" trumpet belonged to renowned trumpeter, bandleader, and composer John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, a founder of the modern jazz style known as bebop. Renowned for his musical virtuosity and for his impish good humor and wit, Gillespie played this trumpet in the early 1980s. Its uniquely shaped upturned bell was Gillespie's internationally known trademark.

Use this Investigation Sheet to guide students through describing the object and analyzing its meaning.

National Standards

Historical Thinking Standards (Grades K-4)

Historical Thinking Standards (Grades 5-12)

United States History Standards (Grades 5-12)

World History Standards (Grades 5-12)

Instructional Strategies

Museum education

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Keywords

African American history, instrument, African American, African-American History Month, African American, arts, African American History Month, Black, Black History, performance, musical, National Arts and Humanities Month, performer, jazz, music, February, African-American, trumpet, black history month, famous

Related book

Dizzy Gillespie

A biography of Dizzy Gillespie, as an ambassador of jazz who introduced the world to bebop.