Dive into the world of jazz music on MPO! Learn about the history of jazz or check out John Jacobson's musical revue, Razzamajazz in our Units section. Find our Blues Cats and Jazz Cats resources in the Instruments > Recorder section for additional options and opportunities for your students to improvise!
History of Jazz
You can find our jazz unit by going to Units > Listening Units > History of Jazz or clicking the link here: History of Jazz Unit
Related Songs:
Jazzy Songs from MPO Song List
- This Little Light (3)
- Bye Bye Blackbird (G)
- Cold Snap (G)
- Deck the Halls, A Holiday Bossa Nova (G)
- Do You Wanna Make Music (G)
- Fascinatin' Rhythm (G)
- Fidgety Feet (G)
- I Love a Piano (G)
- Jazzy Jive (G)
- Jellybean Blues (G)
- Look for the Silver Lining (G)
- Razzamajazz (G)
- The Birth of the Blues (G)
- The Jiggles (G)
- When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' (G)
Each section in this unit will contain videos detailing the lives of the composers as well as a video of one of their compositions. Printable teacher guides and lesson assessments are also included.
Razzamajazz, A Musical Revue
Discover more jazz resources with John Jacobson's musical revue, Razzamajazz! It includes a short script featuring famous jazz musicians like Billy Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington, offering a historical and musical education for students. Covering diverse jazz styles from smooth jazz to dixieland, Razzamajazz is an excellent way to introduce young musicians to the rich genre of jazz. You can find this by going to Units > Programs & Musicals > Razzamajazz, A Musical Revue or by clicking the link here: Razzamajazz, A Musical Revue
Each section includes downloadable vocal and accompaniment tracks, choreography videos, notation and lyric videos and projectable slides as well as printable teacher and student scores.
Razzamajazz
When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along
Bye Bye Blackbird
The Birth of the Blues
Deck the Halls, A Bossa Nova Holiday
Fidgety Feet
Jazz Recorder
You can find our jazz-related recorder resources by going to Instruments > Recorder > Blues Cats or Jazz Cats or by clicking the links below:
Blues Cats
The songs have various blues forms spanning from the Swing era of the 1930s - 1940s to Heavy Metal Rock. They are suitable for playing with recorders, any barred Orff instrument, or other melodic instruments. While the melodies are beginner-friendly, advanced students can enjoy playing and soloing to the accompaniment tracks. Each song includes lyrics that can be used alongside or in place of recorders, helping students to internalize a quicker understanding of the sometimes complex rhythms.
Jazz Cats
In this section, students can explore six songs spanning various jazz styles, providing opportunities for improvisation. Ranging from Dixieland to contemporary, the pieces accommodate both beginners (using BAG notes) and advanced students (utilizing more advanced scales).
"Cat Walk" features a funky jazz style influenced by gospel and rhythm and blues jazz from the late 1950s and 1960s. It incorporates rhythms from 1950s rock and roll and includes a solo section with the B flat minor third blues.