Big Band Jazz

Across the world there are thousands of languages that we as people use to communicate with one another. Many of these languages have been developed out of others, therefore sharing similar dialects, accents, and in some cases even some words are very similar. Yet of all the languages that are spoken across the world, there is only one that is fluently spoken and understood on every continent, and that is the language of Music.Yet because this language is spoken in so many different parts of the world, in many cases the way it is spoken has a direct relation to when, ND where It Is spoken as well. This country has yielded many different types of music that have In turn, yielded different types of music. For example; from Bluegrass came modern country music, from Soul came RB and Neo-Soul, from Rock and Roll came alternative and punk rock. All of these different types of music are products of their surroundings at conception, but no other than Jazz could yield as dynamic and brilliant of a sound as Big Band Jazz.Following the rise of Dixieland Jazz in the sass was a new style performed by a large ensemble usually consisting of 10 or more players. These bands, called big bands, relied increasingly on saxophones instead of clarinets, and emphasized sectional playing. The overall Instrumentation was broken down Into three groups of instruments: brass which included trumpets and trombones, reed which included saxophones with players sometimes doubling on clarinet, and rhythm section which included the piano, bass, drums, guitar, and in later years, the vibes .Generally big band arrangements followed a standard form; the melody was played by the entire band In unison or harmony then the soloists would Improvise based on the songs elodea, style, and chord progression, and then the melody would be restated, sometimes in a varied or more elaborate way. The music performed by big bands was called swing, a type of music that people could dance to easily. It was performed in a triplet swing rhythm style. This energetic dance music was very popular for almost two decades, with the swing era extending through the mid sass. During this ti me, thousands of big bands played across the united States. They performed written arrangements of popular and Jazz songs, sometimes with a vocalist. Radio broadcasts spread Interest In big band music by bringing it into peoples homes. Ballrooms such as the Savoy and the Roseland in New York were extremely popular venues for hearing the latest big band sounds. Although often times they arent given credit, clarinetist Benny Goodman, trombonist Tommy Dorset, clarinetist and saxophonist Jimmy Dorset, trombonist and arranger Glenn Miller, clarinetist and saxophonist Woody Herman, pianist and composer Duke Elongating, were some of the pioneers of the Big Band sound.Although the emphasis in this style of music is mainly on instrumentalist, vocalist such as Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Being Crosby often sung with many of these bands. Of these pioneers, none are as revered for contributing to the genre as William 1 OFF where he learned and became proficient at playing the piano. He began playing with professionals and ended up on a tour that had to go through Kansas City. It was there that Basis, and the rest of the musicians were stranded, and disbanded.After becoming acclimated to the Kansas City style, and play for with, and at different places and people, he started his own group. Count Basiss group became very popular for their rhythm section which was so tight that the soloist became known for their riffs. A riff is a short melody usually at a break, rest, or pause in the music. They are used to elaborate and fancy up the given melody of the piece. Inflections in the music such as his riffs shaped Basses sounds, and style. Another one of Big Bands pioneers who contributed greatly to the music, and especially to his times was Duke Elongating. Born Edward Kennedy Elongating and then later nicknamed Duke by one of his piano teachers, he like many other musicians darted learning and perfecting their craft at a young age. At the young age of seventeen he had dropped out of High School to completely dedicate himself to his music. After playing with and for people and musicians at different venues, he would eventually put together what seemed to him like the perfect group of players, and they called themselves the Washingtons (after Dukes birthplace; Washington D. C. Contrary to his recent failures at sustaining a sound the people liked with a group, the Washingtons were a hit, and became very popular. They had developed a Tyler all their own that had been labeled by the press as Jungle sound . From there he went on to form his orchestra which would end up playing regularly at the famous Cotton Club in New York City. Throughout his musical career he would compose, arrange, and rearrange literally thousands of works; some for solo instruments, some for bands and orchestras, and some for himself on the piano.He would be known for his style of writing for soloists inside of his groups, knowing their capabilities and strong points. He is also known for being able to adapt to the changing times unlike any of his contemporaries. Some of his most popular works include Dont get around much anymore, and the song that defined the era It dont mean a thing if it anti got that swing. Duke Elongating was the perfect example of how musicians then were Just as popular to the media and society as artists are today.He was kind, polite, and polished, and that added to his incredible musicianship made Duke Elongating one of the greatest and most favored musicians of his and all time. Although the Big Band/Swing era was dominated largely by instrumental Jazz, vocal Jazz would usher in new concepts as well. As early as 1926 the famous Louis Armstrong would drop the lyrics to one of his songs, and try out a new way of singing . This new way was a mixture of creating sounds and syllables and improvisational singing.This style would be called scat. Though Louis Armstrong invented this style, it is usually more closely associated, and didnt become popular until Ella Fitzgerald would begin to use it. Ella seemed to add dazzle to scatting and clearly defined it as a vocal improvisation using phonetic sounds similar to the instrumental sounds of Jazz . Other singers added to the early ideas of scat such as Sara Vaughn who was also key in bringing Jazz, and scat into the American home, with a number of radio and TV programs .Scatting would, like many other forms of jazz, become a favorite amongst musicians audiences, and helped shape Jazz into Through people like Count Basis and his riffs, Duke Elongating and his Jungle music, and Ella Fitzgerald and her scatting was Jazz defined during an era of turbulence in the country on many fronts. The Big Band Swing style was the dialect of language that Americans used to communicate with one another when we couldnt seem to use he English language efficiently.

Teaching elementary students Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Teaching elementary students - Essay Example At this period children develop effectively writing and drawing skills. The cognitive development characteristics are active information gathering, learning skills, mastering abstract thinking. At this period of life children master verbal skills. They long to become competent that’s why they are prone to ask many questions which are mostly fact-oriented. Communication needs are usually satisfied in social groups or interest clubs. Elementary students are able to handle abstract ideas, think generally of concrete objects, devise memory strategies, and evaluate behavior. Their attention is selective. The emotional development of elementary students is marked by acquiring independence and self-confidence. It’s a stage when self-concept and self-awareness are developing. It’s a stage when a personality traits are more outlined and which can be changed or preserved for the rest of the life depending on many factors. At this stage of development an active social participation starts. A person learns to achieve and compete, feels strong group identity. The need for interaction is satisfied through working and playing with others. The sex identity is determined and a child imitates the same sex adult. Constructivism regards learning as a construction of reality through our experiences. People generate ‘mental models’ to ‘shape’ experience and further acquire new ones. So, successful teaching practices should take into account the mental models which students use to perceive the world. Constructivists regard learning as a search for meaning, not memorizing of the ready answers. Constructivism suggests to customize curricula according to students needs, thus eliminating a standardized curriculum as well as grades and standardized testing. The students are encouraged to analyze and interpret information. They also play a vital role in the assessment of their progress. In Piaget developmental theory learning is also based

The Mission - from Religious and Theological Perspective Essay

The Mission - from Religious and Theological Perspective - Essay Example Directed by Roland Joffe and written by Robert Bolt, the film won the Academy Award for Best cinematography. From the plot summary, it is obvious that film mainly focuses on the religion of Christianity. Throughout the film, various facets of Christianity are explored and that includes the role played by that religion during the colonization of territories by the European or Western colonial powers in early centuries, particularly the role played by the Christian missionaries in the ‘evolution’ of the native population. The film also focuses on the core Christian beliefs and teachings, and delves into how different sections of population interpret those beliefs and teachings. â€Å"If you are looking for a fascinating portrayal of historical Christian faith and missions during the centuries past, â€Å"The Mission† is it (though not a â€Å"Christian† production itself).† (Paul, n. d) In the film, the religion of Christianity plays a vital component. That is, The Mission features the series of struggles faced by Father Gabriel in his journey to preach Christianity to the indigenous people, gain their trust and evangelize them. During that journey, the concept of Christianity is clearly highlighted. â€Å"The film is set in the 1750s and involves the Jesuit Reductions, a program by which the European Catholic Church sought to Christianize and â€Å"civilize the indigenous native populations of South America.†(â€Å"The Mission – Summary†, n. d). The representation of Christianity in the film seems to be accurate, as it reflects the activities of the Christian missionaries and other groups to spread Christianity in many lands in the early centuries. That is, the movie mainly focuses on the group of Jesuit priests traveling to distant lands in an attempt to spread and reach the Word of God to the native population. In addition, in those early times, the Jesuit priests/missionaries use to live with the native population for many years, instead of having a temporary stay. In a way, they coexist with the local people, thereby understanding their culture, lifestyle, problems, etc. In the movie also, Father Gabriel along with Mendoza permanently live and carry out constructive work in the Guarani settlement. â€Å"This fact is consistent with historical missions created by Europeans in South America, where Jesuit priests would coexist with tribes such as the Guarani.† (Fritz, 2010). Hence, the representation of Christianity in the film can be considered accurate, and also as an effective means of revealing the holistic features of Christianity. In the film, the Jesuit priests’ attempts to evangelize the native South American population provide key perspectives about the expansion activities of Jesuit priests as well as the core values of Christianity. The key message delivered in the film is how the ‘education’ of the native people about the basic principles of Chr istianity can bring about certain constructive changes in their society. Thus, the film in a way conveys a positive message; as it makes the native people to understand and imbibe the vital components of Christianity namely love towards fellow men, compassion, peace, sacrifice, etc. Though the Guarani initially resist and oppose the preaching of the Father Gabriel, in the latter part of the film, they even go to the extent of dying for his cause. â€Å"This movie depicts the role of religion in the European