SCHOOL WORKSHOPS & RESIDENCIES

WHO

• Workshops and residencies are suitable for students 10 years (5^th Grade) or older.
• No musical experience is required.
• Music and other arts students are welcome.

WHAT

• A one-time workshop, e.g. Jazz as a Metaphor for Democratic Participation, or another agreed upon theme, topic, event or time period
• A residency of 2-12 lessons centered around your choice of themes, topics, events or time periods. For example:
  • Leadership
  • Rights, Responsibilities and Citizen Resistance
  • Slavery
  • The 2^nd Amendment Debate
  • The Constitution
  • The Occupy Wall Street Movement

WHEN

• During U.S. History, Government, Civics, Music or elective class periods, as well as after school
• Class length = one class period or 60-90mins when schedules allow
• Best when lessons are held twice per week

WHERE

In your classroom, multi-purpose room, assembly space, gymnasium or other community space

WHY

• The Jazz & Democracy Project® challenges students to think critically, creatively, and to use high order thinking skills: evaluation, synthesis and application of ideas within and across disciplines.
• J&D reaches children of all learning modalities by utilizing literary, aural, visual and kinesthetic activities.
• J&D connects history with current events, modern society and students’ lives
• J&D enriches the core curriculum while providing arts education.
• J&D fosters an appreciation for jazz, America’s classical music.
• J&D encourages civic engagement in one’s community.
• Click here for more.

Program Highlights:

1. EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS INTERVIEWS

The Jazz & Democracy Project® exclusive artist interviews form the foundation of the J&D curriculum. Excerpts from these interviews are both transcribed in the J&D course book, and played aurally for students, providing first hand insight into the jazz process from emerging and established jazz masters.

Lakecia

Benjamin

Terence

Blanchard

Michel

Camilo

Terri Lyne

Carrington

Regina

Carter

Marc

Cary

Sarah

Elizabeth Charles

Gerald

Clayton

Rachelle

Ferrell

Tia

Fuller

Terreon

Gully

Stefon

Harris

Lalah

Hathaway

Horacio “El Negro”

Hernandez

Grace

Kelly

Billy

Kilson

Mark

Levine

Alexis

Lombre

Christian

McBride

Myra

Melford

Marcus

Miller

Meshell

Ndegeocello

Hailey

Niswanger

Elena

Pinderhughes

Gregory

Porter

Dafnis

Prieto

Joshua

Redman

Anton

Schwartz

Kendrick

Scott

Marcus

Shelby

Wayne

Shorter

Ben

Sidran

Walter

Smith III

Aneesa

Strings

Helen

Sung

Jacky

Terrasson

Camille

Thurman

Jeff ‘Tain’

Watts

Ben

Williams

Warren

Wolf

Brandee

Younger

Miguel

Zenón

2. MUSICIAN DAY

The Jazz & Democracy Project® puts live music directly in front of students on Musician Day. So far, over 60 musicians have played for J&D students, turning the ordinary classroom into an interactive jazz hang where students interact with musicians both musically and through Q&A. Musicians share their insights on the music—and sometimes on democracy—helping students get further inside the jazz process. From this first hand experience students are treated not only to a private concert, but to an intimate understanding of the music and what is required of musicians who play it.

3. DEMOCRACY JAM®

The Democracy Jam® is J&D’s civic engagement vehicle. Students are asked how they would like to participate in democracy, be it a pressing issue such as poverty, or through a profession that interests them. Later in the course, after locating people who work on these issues or in these fields, J&D students Democracy Jam® with guest speakers. Like a jam session, a Democracy Jam® is a structured yet free flowing conversation that requires preparation. Students prepare questions based on the guest’s biography or resume, but a free exchange of ideas is encouraged. Each guest is encouraged to tell students what skills it took for them to reach the current place in their career so that students can decide if they truly want to pursue this issue or career, and if so, how to begin moving in that direction right away.