How to Use this Study Guide
Welcome to this free companion Study Guide for LEGENDS OF JAZZ with Ramsey Lewis. The TV series, co-produced by LRSmedia and WTTW National Productions, aired on PBS stations nationwide throughout 2006. For ease of use in the classroom, you can get the series on DVD. Season One, 12 full episodes on 3 DVDs, can be purchased at many music and electronic retailers and online at www.legendsofjazz.net. We hope you enjoy viewing the DVD episodes, spending quality time exploring this content, and learning more about the jazz legends and guest artists featured throughout the LEGENDS OF JAZZ series.
Although mostly designed for secondary level students, these companion study guides are easily applicable to students, artists, and jazz lovers of all ages. The guides are based on the Comprehensive Musicianship model for music education and provide an in depth study of each jazz legend and guest artist featured within each episode.
LRSmedia and IAJE would love to hear feedback from any educators or students who have used the LEGENDS OF JAZZ Study Guides with Season One. Please send us an email at info@legendsofjazz.net and let us know what you think!
Guide Components
Each study guide includes lists such as selected discography, videography, bibliography, and useful websites for continued study. The guides also feature brief biographical information, audio clips, video clips, images, and notable quotes provided by episode guest artists.
In keeping with the Comprehensive Musicianship model, we have added a snapshot overview of jazz era’s that relate best to each featured artist, and have provided other expanded educational content including:
- Episode Quizzes
- A suggested list of Creative Projects
- Student Listening Activities
- Glossary of Terms
- Artist Media-ographies and Study Guide References
All components of the study guides are printable, so please feel free to print anything you would like.
Using the Standards
To aid the educator in determining how the study guides' educational content meets the National Standards for Music Education, we have added a special standards tracker throughout each guide. This special icon symbol NS designates the standard(s) being met by the content with a link to a complete list of the nine content standards for music education.
We encourage educators to visit http://www.menc.org/publication/books/standards.htm for more detailed information about the music content standards and how to best implement them into their music programs. Published by the National Association for Music Education, this is an exceptional resource for K-12 educators.
Music Appreciation
The study guides take more of a music appreciation approach and limits the use of extensive technical music-based content. Our goal is to maximize participation from individuals without formal musical training or background. Again, the guides are intended to be used by students and jazz enthusiasts of all ages.
That being said, we give you the educator, student, and jazz enthusiast, permission to be creative, adapt the content to fit your unique needs and explore, explore, explore!
LRSmedia & IAJE
The partnership between LRSmedia and the International Association for Jazz Education, formed in 2004, focuses on music education initiatives. Working together toward the common goal of educating future generations on jazz and its legends, LRS and IAJE have co-produced custom complimentary study guides for LEGENDS OF JAZZ, and will create special programs for the tour in the fall of 2007 for music students and educators. This partnership has also helped financially support both partners’ individual endeavors; IAJE is a partial underwriter of LEGENDS OF JAZZ and LRSmedia supports IAJE’s Campaign for Jazz with revenue shares and discounts.
The mission of the International Association for Jazz Education is to assure the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz and jazz education. As a means of advancing its mission, International Association for Jazz Education initiates programs which nurture and promote the understanding and appreciation of jazz and its heritage, provide leadership to educators regarding curricula, aesthetics and performance; assists teachers and practitioners with information and resources; and takes an active part in organizing clinics, festivals and symposia at local, regional, national and international levels. International Association for Jazz Education also promotes the application of jazz principles in music materials and methods at all levels of education; communicates informational segments of the public including artists, educators, students, enthusiasts, the music industry and the general public; and encourages education which provides the knowledge, skills and materials vital to a career in jazz. Further, the International Association for Jazz Education encourages research, provides financial assistance, and advocates for jazz in all appropriate forums, thereby building a larger group of both audience and artists. Learn more about the IAJE at www.iaje.org.
LRSmedia, LLC, founded by music-industry veterans Lee Rosenberg, Larry Rosen, and Ramsey Lewis, develops adult-oriented music brands and products, created in multi-camera HD TV and 5.1 Surround Sound. LRSmedia markets its product through a 360° Branded Entertainment Experience™ which includes television, nationally syndicated radio, CD, DVD and Blu-ray products, coffee table books, online entertainment, news and e-commerce, live events, and educational and community outreach programs. By creating music brands and leveraging interrelated programming to market artists and music under the brand umbrellas, LRSmedia reaches more consumers in a more compelling manner than traditional music companies. At present, LRSmedia brands include RECORDING: The History of Recorded Music, LEGENDS OF JAZZ, and SOUNDSTAGE—with more in development. For more information, visit www.lrsmedia.net and www.legendsofjazz.net.
