Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Louis Armstrong Education Kit"

Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn: Jazz Composers

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:33:43 GMT

Through brief biographies of the composers, primary source documents, and media clips, students will learn about the collaboration of these two great jazz composers and the process involved in writing and recording two of the most celebrated jazz pieces. This website examines two jazz standards, each one its author's most-recorded piece: Caravan, written in 1936 by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol, and Take the "A" Train, composed in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn.

Duke Ellington and Jazz Homepage

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 18:34:25 GMT

Children and adults can enjoy exploring the story behind one of America’s pioneers of jazz music, Duke Ellington, through children's literature, museum collections, and hands-on activities. Focused around Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra, a picture book biography of the Washington, DC native, the module includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings for further exploration.

SmithsonianJazz.org

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:52:59 GMT

Explore jazz through listening activities, interviews with musicians, and background information on SmithsonianJazz.org. Prominently featured on this site are two suites of learning activities: one focusing on Duke Ellington for elementary students and one focusing on Louis Armstrong for middle and high school students. Students can also hone their skills at analyzing oral histories with a collection of over fifty recordings of jazz composers, arrangers, and performers.

Groovin' to Jazz 12-15

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:02:52 GMT

In this music activity, students will learn how to listen to and appreciate authentic jazz recordings by listening to fifteen recordings by jazz greats and reading brief introductions that discuss the relevance of the songs as well as how to listen to them.

Oral History Activity with Jazz Great John Levy

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:01:39 GMT

In this lesson, students will learn about the Jim Crow era in American history through an oral history interview with jazz legend John Levy. The resource set includes photographs and newspaper clippings in addition to the oral history excerpts, a teacher guide, and a student worksheet. This interview was collected as part of the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.