Teaching American Folk Music...And All That Jazz

Should Music Educators be experts in jazz or American folk music?

Perhaps. Though I'm not sure if all music educators should be experts in jazz or American folk music, they should certainly be familiar enough with it to know what kinds of songs they should be teaching, how they should be teaching them, and why they’re important. There is so much that every music educator must know in order to be successful, is jazz and folk music a priority? Well...

What if music teachers were change agents--and folk music and jazz music was a way to empower youth?

It's an interesting way of looking at it, isn't it? American folk music and Jazz are our own genres; it was born here, and it has a place in our hearts and our culture. If this is really true than it is not only our right to teach these area of music, but our responsibility. For if we don't teach it, who will? What will happen if we don't teach it? Like knowing the pledge of allegiance, there are certain forms of music and certain songs that I believe every child should be exposed to. It's just about making it a priority and finding a place for it in our curriculum. The opportunities are there, even if we have to be creative in finding them.

I observed a great lesson a few month ago that incorporated jazz in a 6th grade chorus class of all places. Jungle Bell Swing was one of their concert pieces which is sung in the less common meter of 5/4 time. The chorus teacher, Amy, used this as a teachable moment to explain to the kids the difference between 5/4 and what they are use to (4/4, 3/4, 2/4). She first guided them through questions, and then wrote examples of the meter it out on the board, showing how the each measure is broken down. Next, she taught them how to conduct in 5/4, which I thought was very cool. Middle school kids are never (that I have experienced) taught anything about conducting because it’s a skill that they don’t have to have. The kids know this so they think it’s cool too, which makes them feel empowered as a leader. Plus, through conducting the kids learn how to physically move to a 5/4 meter and can physically understand how it is broken up. Finally she gave the kids an example of how 5/4 is used in real music by playing for them a video of Dave Brubeck, a famous jazz pianist, playing one of his hits “Take five” and had the kids conduct along. She spoke to the kids about this work and Jazz music, which they seemed to take a genuine interest in. After seeing that every kid understood, she brought them back to their music and began to rehearse with obvious improvements. 

Here is a wonderful example of how one of these seemingly unrelated forms of music can be incorporated into an everyday lesson. Even in a 6th grade chorus class, while preparing for a holiday concert, we can find creative ways to introduce other aspects of music. 

What American songs should every child know?

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The Star-Spangled Banner

I Got Rhythm
Take Five 
The Star Spangled Banner

America The Beautiful

Yankee Doodle

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Twinkle Twinkle

Camptown Races

Gold bless America

Hot cross buns

O Susanna