Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz
Smithsonian Jazz is home to several online exhibits, an interactive "Duke Ellington class," recordings, publications, oral histories, and similar resources.
PBS
Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns
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,...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: A Brief History of Jazz!
A lesson plan that helps learners explore the roots of jazz music and some of the important jazz musicians in history.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Jazz and the African American Literary Tradition
Article explores the influence of jazz on African American literature from the early history of jazz, noted jazz artists, the black-white tensions within jazz, to its literary influence after World War II.
Other
A Passion for Jazz
This resource is dedicated to all topics related to jazz music, such as jazz history and jazz theory.
Other
Jazz at Lincoln Center: Jazz for Young People Curriculum
This jazz resource provides many lessons which include audio, video, slideshows and quizzes.
Other
Jazz Improvisation Primer
An info-packed lesson on jazz improvisation and jazz history. Very useful for musicians aspiring to play in the jazz idiom.
Other
Jazz Dance History: Jack Cole
The influence and importance of Jack Cole in the development of jazz dance in the theater, includes shows he choreographed.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong Orchestra
Includes brief history of Louis Armstrong and his orchestra, a photo, and a complete discography list.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn
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...
Stanford University
Sulair: The Monterey Jazz Festival Collection
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...
![Pbs: History Detectives: Investigations: Black Star Line [Pdf] Activity](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/35500-5ce0e7c72f9615a7b74440d3571e2d59.jpg?1661252960 "Pbs: History Detectives: Investigations: Black Star Line [Pdf] Activity")
PBS
Pbs: History Detectives: Investigations: Black Star Line [Pdf]
PBS had a series called "History Detectives." The video is no longer available for this episode, but this transcript of the video is. Read about the Black Star Line, envisioned by Marcus Garvey as a shipping company in which African...
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Us History: 1890 1945: American Culture in the 1920s
Learn about jazz, flappers, and the Lost Generation.
Read Works
Read Works: Time for Jazz
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a girl named Lina who wanted to learn more about jazz music and its history. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Curated OER
The Red Hot Jazz Archive: A History of Jazz Before 1930
A short essay that discusses the history of jazz before 1930. Includes links to a full archive of information and recordings related to jazz.
Digital History
Digital History: The Roaring Twenties [Pdf]
Read this comprehensive look at the Roaring Twenties, or Jazz Age. Read about Prohibition and its ramifications, women's gains, entertainment, and literature. Also find out about the resurgence of racial unrest and violence. A very good...
Other
Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago
Information about the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, includes company history.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Books and Movies
A look at the literature and movies written and produced in the Jazz Age. See how the writers of the age reflected the consumer society and the emptiness of middle class. Movies appealed to mass culture and millions went to the movies...
Scott Alexander
The Red Hot Jazz Archive: Origins of Big Band Jazz
Examines the progression from Ragtime and New Orleans jazz to Big Band.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: Old Values vs. New Values
An overview of the clash between the old way of life of the Victorian Age and the new, the Jazz Age.
Other
Down Beat: John Coltrane
Biographical information, photos, and a discography of jazz great John Coltrane, whose work in the 1960s included excursions into free jazz.
Other
All About Jazz
Has reviews, interviews, and articles. Of special interest is the jazz time-line.
Scott Alexander
History of Jazz Before 1930: Bessie Smith, 1895 1937
This page offers information about Bessie Smith's life and work, including several audio recordings.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Learning the Blues
This lesson plan introduces students to the blues. The origin and development of the blues is explored as well as its distinctive structure.