Music History/Appreciation Poster Project

Music History/Appreciation project: Jazz Music through the Ages!

Jazz Music is one of America’s greatest contributions to the world community. Born at the turn of the twentieth century in the southernmost areas of the United States of America, it blends musical characteristics of West African, popular European, and classical music forms to create a uniquely American musical genre. It is often said that Jazz is the “only completely American musical invention…”

However, it can be hard to define or pinpoint exactly what Jazz is because it spans a period of over 100 years, and has evolved greatly from its earliest beginnings. In present day, we often separate Jazz Music into specific Eras and sub-genres because of these evolutionary changes. In fact, it is changing still today!

Objectives:  Each student will explore, research, experience and compile information about a specific Jazz era or sub-genre.  Each student will design and construct an informational poster or about their assigned era or sub-genre. These will be shown or displayed at school.  Each student will present his/her poster to the class in conjunction with in-class study of that particular Jazz sub-genre or era.

Suggestions and Ideas for Inclusion:  Specific dates  Location(s) where the sub-genre was developed  Important musicians, bands, figureheads who help develop the style  Important musical characteristics of the style  Pictures, embedded media, or audio relating to your sub-genre (musicians, bands, etc)  Your project should be neatly organized and aesthetically appealing. Take text size and amount into consideration  Be creative in your design

Grading (60 points total)  Work periods (staying on task, using time effectively) (20 points)  Correctness of included poster material, pictures, and information (20 points)  Overall neatness, aesthetics, and organization of poster (20 points)

Sub-Genres/Eras  1900-1920: “Ragtime”  1900-1920: “New Orleans Jazz” (aka “Dixieland Jazz”)  1920-1930: “The Jazz Age” (“Hot Jazz”)  1930-1940: “Swing”  1940-1950: “Bebop”  1950-1960: “Cool Jazz”  1950-1960: “Hard Bop”  1950-1960: “Free Jazz”  1960-1970: “Latin Jazz” (“Afro-Cuban Jazz”)  1960-1970: “Soul Jazz”  1970-1980: “Jazz Fusion” (“Jazz Funk”)  1980-2010: “Smooth Jazz”  1980-2010: “European Jazz”  1980-2010: “Traditionalist/Straight-Ahead Jazz”