American Culture Webinars

For English Language Teachers

Brought to you by :U.S. Embassy Lima’s Public Affairs Section

WELCOME!

Our goal: To provide info on U.S. culture AND to help you create an effective plan to use in your classroom.

Please ask questions! That’s why we’re here.

Preservation Hall, New Orleans, LouisianaOzier Muhammad/The New York Times

Jazz Appreciation Month

• APRIL is Jazz Appreciation Month

• UNESCO declared April 30th as International Jazz Day in 2011

Elements of Jazz

• Jazz has many forms, with distinctive style; even today, it is still evolving and changing

• Some common elements:– Improvisation– Multiple rhythms, “polyrhythms”– Syncopation– Flexible time structure, that “swing” or feeling– Group interaction, call and response style

Origins of Jazz

• Beginning of 20th century, ragtime and blues were popular music. Both influenced jazz and vice versa.

• New Orleans, Louisiana, became home to early Jazz. “Jelly Roll” Morton began his career in New Orleans.

The Jazz Age – 1920s and 30s

Bebop and Beyond

• Bebop was a deviation from the big band dance music style, fans said it was a return to “musicians’ music” while some critics called it “noise”

• Bebop style was rhythmically complex, with unexpected changes in chords

Jazz Greats

Miles Davis

Dave Brubeck

Ella Fitzgerald

Herbie Hancock

Billie Holiday

Jazz Ambassadors 1950s-60s

Jazz in the Plaza Mayor

Lima, Peru - February 2012

Plan Your Lesson Plan

1) What are your topics?

2) What kind of questions/conversations starters will you ask?

3) What new vocabulary do you need?

4) What activities can you do with your students?

MusicWhat kinds of music do you like? Why?

Example of Music Types

Jazz, country, classical, reggae, rock, rap, pop, hip hop, heavy metal, gospel, blues

What a Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong

Video of children around the world singing What a Wonderful World.

Short version: 1.5 minuteshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGFCQ30xMyg

Full version:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddLd0QRf7Vg

Song lyrics:http://www.lyricsty.com/louis-armstrong-what-a-wonderful-world-lyrics.html

Lyrics: What a Wonderful WorldI see trees of green........ red roses tooI see them bloom..... for me and for youAnd I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of whiteBright blessed days....dark sacred nightsAnd I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the skyAre also on the faces.....of people ..going byI see friends shaking hands.....saying.. how do you doThey're really saying......I love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them growThey'll learn much more.....than I'll ever knowAnd I think to myself .....what a wonderful world

What a Wonderful World Speaking ActivitiesBeginner: • What colors are in nature? (pre-listening activation)• In groups, circle the nature words in the lyrics.Intermediate:• What do you think these lines means?

I hear babies cry...... I watch them growThey'll learn much more.....than I'll ever know

• What do YOU think makes the world wonderful?Advanced:• What do you think these lines means?

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the skyAre also on the faces.....of people ..going by

• Do you think that music can contribute to world peace? How?

Album Cover Projects

• Create a music album cover for “your band”– Name of your band– Type of music?– Song titles list

Intermediate level extension:• One paragraph review of the album

Music Video ProjectsStudents create their own music videos

• In groups, they will need to:– Choose an appropriate song– Memorize the words – Practice together– Video tape their performance using a camera, cell phone or

computer camera

• Consider creating a class blog to display the student videos in order to “publish” student work with parents, administration and other students. (easy blogs at blogger.com)

Music Discussion ActivityTry this website: http://iteslj.org/questions

Sample questions: low (activation for all levels)1. What is one of your favorite songs? Why do you like it?2. Do you like jazz? Why or why not?

Sample questions: intermediate3. Do you think that animals can enjoy music? Why? 4. If you could be a musician, who would you be? Why?

Sample questions: high intermediate/high5. What instrument are you most like and why?6. If your life had a soundtrack, what kind of music would play? Why?

Jazz Resources

Smithsonian’s Jazz Page– http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/

UNESCO International Jazz Day– http://www.unesco.org/new/en/jazz-day

National Public Radio’s Jazz Page– http://www.nprjazz.org

Resources

American English webpage– americanenglish.state.gov

RELO Andes webpage– reloandes.com (link to this presentation found

here!)

Music Links from WebinarJelly Roll Morton playing Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag (as a Stomp)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEfW4sggZCk

Original Dixieland Jazz Band “Livery Stable Blues” 2008 recordinghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ahodYxIN0c

Charlie Parker “Groovin’ High” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukL3TDV6XRg

Dave Brubeck “Take Five” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmDDOFXSgAs

Miles Davis “So What” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqNTltOGh5c

NOW GO CHECK OUT SOME MORE!

Vocabulary - Beginner

MUSIC INSTRUMENT

JAZZ SOUNDTRACK

SING LATIN JAZZ

LISTEN THE JAZZ AGE

VOICE HARMONY

RHYTHM BEAT

Vocabulary - Advanced

INFLUENCE BLUES

RHYTHMIC RAGTIME

ECLECTIC SWING

SYNCOPATION BEBOP

IMPROVISE HIP-HOP

SCALE FUNK

QUESTIONS?

Remember:You can check out the webinars and the

corresponding resources on the RELO Andes blog - reloandes.com