Charmaine Neville performs at the Children's Castle in Kenner for a group of kids from Westwego Elementary School. The program, A World of Rhythm, includes songs that highlight various styles and rhythms of music.
INFORMANCES
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GOAL:
TO FOSTER AN AWARENESS AND APPRECIATION OF JAZZ MUSIC AND CULTURE WITHIN ELEMENTARY LEVEL STUDENTS.

JAZZ HISTORY INFORMANCES
for CHILDREN

These presentations, dubbed "informances" are given by musical ensembles familiar with performing for children and each can offer something different in connecting the child with this unique music form and its cultural significance. Each one hour informance will expose a different element of jazz history in a show full of audience participation.

THE BRASS BAND TRADITION:
with the Euphonious or Mahogany Brass Band. With exuberant parade marching, get down jamming, and a mock jazz funeral, the band shows the history of the New Orleans brass band from its traditional past to its relevance for a whole new generation as students learn how to "second line."

THE ROOTS & REVELATION OF JAZZ:
with Carl LeBlanc & Next Stop. This band leads a fun filled expedition into a broad history of jazz from its roots in Congo Square through the cool jazz of Miles Davis, all the way to jazz fusion and avant guarde.

In celebration of the Louis Armstrong centennial:
SATCH FROM SCRATCH:
with Reggie Houston, Charmaine Neville and friends. Through songs by and about Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, Reggie and Charmaine give a narrative overview of this important performer and world ambassador of jazz. Satchmo's early development in New Orleans is highlighted and students learn through participation about improvisation and "scat" singing.

TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG:
with Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers. The most important jazz trumpeter of all time is brought to life by the heir to his legacy, New Orleans trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and educator Henri Smith. Like Satchmo, Kermit conveys an undeniable spirit of joy and exuberance as he demonstrates the important periods and songs of Armstrong's career.

The Euphonius Brass Band plays and struts outside the old U.S. Mint in New Orleans, while students from McDonough No. 15 School second line. The 7 musicians jammed and performed a mock jazz funeral to help the children understand the history of brass bands.

Native New Orleanian jazz virtuosos Henry Butler, on piano, and Donald Harrison Jr., on saxophone, play a jazz version of "Amazing Grace" for members of Young Audiences, an arts education group meeting in N.O. for its annual convention. Butler & Harrison & other local musicians spoke of the importance of music eduction in school curriculums.
SUGGESTED PRE-ACTIVITIES

1. Introduce artist/jazz genre by playing a related recording. (See Suggested Discography)

2. Read and discuss a Jazz related book. (See Suggested Bibliography)

3. Read artist biography and make predictions of some selections artist might perform.

4. Discuss and role play proper concert decorum.
SUGGESTED POST-ACTIVITIES

1. Compare predictions in #3 above to actual selections performed.

2. Use a Jazz related story starter:
* Jazz makes me ...
* If I were a Jazz musician I would ...

3. Play a Jazz selection. Instruct students to list the instruments heard.

4. Make an I learned ... chart. Each student lists one thing he/she learned from the informance.

Second graders at Woodland West Elementary in Harvey, LA second line to the music of the Centennial Jazz Band, led by banjo player Papa Don Vapie.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brown, Sandford. Louis Armstrong, New York, NYC: F. Watts, 1993

Hughes, Langston. The First Book of Jazz: updated and expanded by Sandford Brown, New York, NYC: F. Watts, 1982.

Isadora, Rachel. Ben's Trumpet:

Raschka, Christopher. Charlie Parker Played Bebop: New York, NYC: Orchard Books, 1992.

Thiele, Bob and George Weiss. What A Wonderful World: New York, N.Y.: Antheneum, 1996.
SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY

Armstrong, Louis, Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, Columbia.

Coltrane, John, John Coltrane Live at Birdland, Impulse Records.

Morton, Jelly Roll, Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, "X" Vault Records.

Neville, Charmaine, It's About Time, Gert Town Records.

Oliver, Joseph "King", King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band with Louis Armstrong, Riverside.

Olympia Brass Band, Jazz Funeral, Mardi Gras Records.

ReBirth Brass Band, Do What You Want To, Rounder Records.
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