magnifier
Teach PA History
magbottom
 
Explore PA History
Visit PA Regions
Eckstine, Strayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing
Equipment & Supplies
  • Compact Disc Player, Paper and pencil, Map of Pennsylvania
Procedures

Preparation


Download and copy the combined worksheets for this lesson.



Day 1


Find out students" prior knowledge of World War II by brainstorming a list of things students know about World War II. Use some of the student-generated topics to paint the setting of World War II for the students and describe how it was a difficult time for the United States. Then discuss how music was a factor in unifying the United States during World War II. Ask the students, "What types of things bring people of the United States together after something like the September 11th tragedies?"


Distribute Worksheet 1: Swing Journal. Listen to musical selections of the Dorsey Brothers– "Autumn in New York," "Blue Moon," "Hawaiian War Chant," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "One O'clock Jump," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," and "So Rare."


Read and discuss biographical notes of the Dorsey Brothers. Investigate why their historical marker is located in Schuylkill County.


Identify Philadelphia (one of the first places the Dorsey Brothers performed) and Shenandoah (Dorsey Brothers birth places) on a large Pennsylvania map. The teacher may construct pins with a small flag identifying the historical landmarks.


Show excerpts of the DVD Jazz Episode 5– "Swing: Pure Pleasure" " especially the segment on Tommy Dorsey (from 34:30 min to 37:30 min).



Day 2


Have students listen to some well-known jazz pieces such as Glenn Miller's "Swing Swing Swing" or Tommy Dorsey's "Hawaiian War Chant." Ask students to identify on a separate sheet of paper how this music is different or similar to the music they listen to today. What type of feelings does this music evoke? What instruments are used? Use this information from the students to develop a definition of swing music.


Listen to musical selections of Billy Eckstine – "Caravan," "Prisoner of Love," "You Go to My Head," and "In the Still of the Night."


Read and discuss biographical notes of Billy Eckstine.


Show excerpts of the DVD Jazz Episode 5 – "Swing: Pure Pleasure."


Investigate why his historical marker is in the Pittsburgh area. Again, have a student identify the historical spot on a map with a pin/flag that the teacher has constructed.


Day 3


Students will be paired off to do Internet research on the events of the 1940s. Students will be given two pieces of paper and a 1-2 year time period for which they will construct a timeline of events. The events are to be written neatly with the date of the event written nearby. The students may add illustrations if time allows.



Day 4


Students will be divided into groups of three to work on a news article and musical review of a selected swing musician. Distribute Worksheet 2: News Article and Musical Review. Students will use the Internet to conduct research, then construct a newspaper article with a musical review of the musician included.

Back to Top