Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: A Brief History of Jazz!

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson plan that helps learners explore the roots of jazz music and some of the important jazz musicians in history.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns

For Students 9th - 10th
The companion website for a documentary film about jazz is home to a storehouse of resources and unique features about the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of jazz. With a timeline of key events in the history of jazz,...
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two of the greatest jazz composers, collaborated on hundreds of works. As you explore this exhibition, you will have an opportunity to view original music scores, listen to audio clips, and view videos...
Website
Stanford University

Sulair: The Monterey Jazz Festival Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
This fabulous site describes the repository of the digitized collection of music from the Monterey Jazz Festival from 1958 which is housed on the Stanford University campus. On this site you can read about the performances, watch and...
Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong Orchestra

For Students 9th - 10th
Includes brief history of Louis Armstrong and his orchestra, a photo, and a complete discography list.
Unit Plan
Other

Jazz Improvisation Primer

For Students 9th - 10th
An info-packed lesson on jazz improvisation and jazz history. Very useful for musicians aspiring to play in the jazz idiom.
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Techno Pop

For Students 9th - 10th
Feature series on "The Secret History of Technology and Pop Music," traced partly through the story of an Indiana company that stopped making pianos and started cutting 78 rpm records using the talents of famous jazz musicians and others.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Henderson, Fletcher Hamilton, Jr.

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief encyclopedia entry about Fletcher Henderson, jazz musician.
Website
Alabama Department of Archives and History

Alabama Department of Archives & History

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Separate Halls of Fame as established by the Alabama Legislature. Includes: business; international motorsports, military, press association, Alabama sports, women, teachers, music and much more.
Article
Scott Alexander

History of Jazz Before 1930: Bessie Smith, 1895 1937

For Students 9th - 10th
This page offers information about Bessie Smith's life and work, including several audio recordings.
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Learning the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This lesson plan introduces students to the blues. The origin and development of the blues is explored as well as its distinctive structure.
Handout
Other

The Official Poncho Sanchez Website

For Students 9th - 10th
Prominent Latin jazz musician Poncho Sanchez's website contains a biography, discography, and photo/video gallery.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Harry Howell Carney

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Harry Howell Carney, an American musician, featured soloist in Duke Ellington's band and the first baritone saxophone soloist in jazz.
Website
Other

Southern Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a simple history of southern music from the 1900s to 1990, complete with in-text links to information on popular musicians and events related to country music. Included are dates for upcoming country music events, as well as a small...
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Dexter Gordon

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Dexter Gordon, an American bop tenor saxophonist.
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Walter Page

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Walter Page, a black American swing-era musician, one of the first to play "walking" lines on the string bass. A pioneer of the Southwestern jazz style, he was a star of the Count Basie...
Graphic
Curated OER

Studio in a Box

For Students 9th - 10th
Feature series on "The Secret History of Technology and Pop Music," traced partly through the story of an Indiana company that stopped making pianos and started cutting 78 rpm records using the talents of famous jazz musicians and others.
Article
Scott Alexander

Lucille Bogan ( Bessie Jackson)

For Students 9th - 10th
Information on the life and discography of blues artist Lucille Bogan, also known as Bessie Jackson. Includes audio samples.