Elementary Curriculum - Jazz St. Louis

ELEMENTARY
CURRICULUM
PARTNERSHIP

Jazz St. Louis’s Elementary Curriculum Partnerships are a district-wide initiative which focuses on reaching general music teachers and students on a much deeper and more comprehensive level.

JAZZ CONCEPTS FOR THE YOUNG BEGINNER

At the heart of the partnership is Jazz Concepts for the Young Beginner (JCYB), an online curriculum resource featuring concept-based lessons that are interactive, fun, and educational. Designed using “Depth of Knowledge” levels, students learn rhythmic, harmonic, and improvisation concepts as well as develop a solid understanding of the social and cultural climate that made the development of jazz possible. See below for a sample lesson from JCYB.

CURRICULUM INTEGRATION

Teachers and administrators in districts that participate in an Elementary Curriculum Partnership will work throughout the year with the Jazz St. Louis education staff to successfully integrate JCYB into their pre- existing curriculum. After the initial year, schools will continue to receive support through regular interaction with the Jazz St. Louis education staff, field experience opportunities, and artist visits.

ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM
PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDES

JCYB curriculum resources, which include access to all of our online lessons, downloadable handouts, musical examples, and a forum to share ideas and resources with other teachers involved in the program.
A minimum of three Professional Development Sessions with the Jazz St. Louis education staff and outside clinicians, to be scheduled on district-wide professional development days.
In-school jazz performances designed as a year-end culmination to the partnership program.
Free tickets to Jazz at the Bistro for teachers involved (subject to availability).

HOW TO APPLY

For the 2017–18 school year, Jazz St. Louis is partnering with St. Louis Public Schools. We are no longer accepting applications for this year. However, we are accepting applications for 2018–19. Click here to download an application.

SAMPLE LESSON FROM JCYB

Student handout for the “Meet the Big Band” lesson from JCYB:

Click to listen to one of the accompanying tracks to this lesson, “JazzU Blues”.

A section of the same lesson as it appears in the teacher’s guide

MISSION

Jazz St. Louis is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to lead our community in advancing the uniquely American art of jazz through live performance, education and community engagement.

ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM PARTNERSHIP