BILLIE HOLIDAY AND DUKE ELLINGTON!
Students had a great time this week listening to the fabulous jazz singing of Billie Holiday and the snappy piano playing of Duke Ellington and his swing band! We looked at black and white photos of the pair and also listened to Blue Moon and It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing!
We also discussed the laid back "swing" of jazz (check out this mp3 from the three year old's saying, "Jazzzz, mannn!") and tried playing "straight beats" and "swung beats" on the cymbals!
I used the comparison of a stiff, marching beat for the straight beat: "ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR!" and the laid back saunter of an elephant swinging his trunk around for the jazzy swung beat: "A-one-and-a-two-and-a-three-and-a-four!"
Check out this adorable video of a three year old who had the jazz counting down:
We also enjoyed moving our bodies to the different styles of beats on the cymbals! Check out the extender questions below to keep the conversation going at home!
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD THIS WEEK:
1) What did the singer, Billie Holiday, like to wear in her hair? A flower!
2) What instrument was Duke Ellington famous for playing? The piano!
3) Do you know how to swing count? (Check out the video above!)