Jazz in America - The National Jazz Curriculum

Learn more

• Learn more about African Americans, American history, blues, Boogie Woogie, Dixieland Jazz, jazz, music, musicians, and Ragtime.

Legal

The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz has developed this internet-based jazz curriculum for social studies, American history, and music for fifth, eighth, and eleventh grade classes. The curriculum offers “a historical overview, examines characteristics of various jazz styles, highlights contributions of important performers and composers, and, most importantly, explores the social, economic, and political contexts within which jazz evolved. Each lesson highlights interdisciplinary connections among content areas, promoting interdisciplinary instruction and stimulating further communication among educators, students, parents, and the public.”

The Jazz Resource Library is extensive. It provides a timeline of the development of jazz in America as well as historical events. A style sheets section looks at jazz from African Music to Dixieland, and Bebop to present day jazz. The musicians section has biographical information on famous jazz musicians and selections can be made alphabetically by last name or sorted by instrument. Important firsts, jazz images, a glossary, links, and audio snippets are also included in the library.