ACTIVITY (app. 40 minutes):

The students will apply their individual creativity to the traditional jazz idiom by each composing a tune for interpretation in a traditional jazz style.

1. Two or three weeks before this lesson:  Assign each participating student to compose a piece to be performed in one of the traditional jazz styles. The piece could be anything from a simple 12-bar blues or 32-bar song to a multi-strained jazz composition, and the representation could be anything from a simple lead sheet to a full score and parts, depending on the intended style and the arranging capabilities of each student.

2. At this lesson:  Have the students begin playing through each student’s composition (app. 40 minutes).  Have the composer lead the rehearsal for his/her piece and advise the others as to intended style, tempo, dynamics etc.  Encourage the students to make positive suggestions for improvements.  Continue at subsequent rehearsals until each piece has been heard.  You will want to feature some or all of these pieces in your students’ public performances.

EVALUATION:  Was each student able to apply the language of traditional jazz to create a new work?  Did the students enjoy performing tunes of their own creation?

© 2014 David Robinson, Jr.