Lesson
Plans and Activities
History
of Jazz
Join us in learning more about the history of jazz from its birth
in New Orleans, Louisiana, to the music we hear on the radio today.
Grammy-Award winning trumpeter and Artistic Director of Jazz at
Lincoln Center Wynton Marsalis invites you to take a tour of jazz
— see the people, read about the events, and listen to the
music. The following history is adapted from the Jazz for Young
People Curriculum by Jazz at Lincoln Center. Grades 3–8
Kids'
Phone Numbers Become Musical Masterpieces.
Music is all around us — to hear and to make. This group
project uses math, science, and art to help kids explore the tones
of music in their world, starting with their own phone numbers.
La
Fiesta!
Children engage in art, music, and cooking activities that celebrate
Spanish culture and culminate in a fiesta. For PreK–2
Mardi Gras!
Art and music activities invite children to explore the wonder
and excitement of Mardi Gras. For PreK–2
Need more
music activities? Visit Scholastic's Content
Index for more music activities for the younger grades.
Professional
Resources
Artful
Technology
Put creativity-boosting tech tools at your students' fingertips
The
Arts Matter
Teachers share how they integrate the arts into the curriculum
— and enrich learning for every child.
Learning
With Jazz
The rich rhythms and stories in jazz music ignite kids to read,
write, sing, and soar!
The
Lowdown on Downloading Music
Napster is gone, but free music on the Internet is still available
through online services that use a technology known as Fast Track,
which lets users exchange music online. To experience the music
industry's online music services, visit one of the sites below.
Nina
Jaffe — World Tales of Drums and Drummers 
Jaffe explains the inspiration for her book and CD that combines
storytelling and music. She offers ideas for how teachers can
incorporate both into lessons using Patakin.
Nina Jaffe is a storyteller, author, educator, and co-host of
Scholastic's Teacher Radio.
Steve
“The Dirtmeister” Tomecek — Sound & Vibration
Experiments to help students discover the properties of sound
and vibration.
Steve Tomecek is a nationally recognized science educator, consultant,
author of books for kids, and an expert at demystifying science
for teachers and students.
Wynton
Marsalis
World-renowned trumpeter and music educator talks about the inspiration
for his new Jazz for Young People Curriculum.
Web
and Software Resources
Music
Software
With cutbacks in art and music budgets in so many schools throughout
the
country, lots of students don't have the opportunity at school
to develop their artistic or musical talent. But thanks to interactive
technology, it's possible to provide music or art enrichment for
students. Here are some top-notch software titles that can help.
Warren
Buckleitner — Software for Music
Buckleitner discusses software to help teach music and music appreciation
to your students.
Software
Clubs: Review of Music Ace 2
Find out about this music program that teaches music fundamentals,
reading music, key signatures, pitch, beat.
Music
Teachers National Association
Since 1876 MTNA has existed to support music teaching and the
art of music. Founded by Theodore Presser and sixty-two colleagues,
MTNA is America's oldest professional music association.
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