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= If you were a "student" in the model lesson, = = please feel free to add your comments to the Reflection Page = = About your Instructor... = Richard Auvil is a recently retired secondary music instructor from the United School District in Armagh, Indiana County after 33 1/2 years. He holds degrees in Music Education and Music Theory/Composition. His duties included conducting instrumental ensembles, teaching instrumental lessons, high school general music, music theory, and guitar classes, directing plays and musicals, and a variety of supplemental activities. His musical community activities still include conducting a church choir, performing as a section bassist with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra, and playing local jazz and musical gigs.

In his “spare time” he presents peer workshops about various music topics, Integrated Academics, podcasting in the clasroom, classroom wiki use, computer music, designing music technology labs, and various other technology topics. He was a regular attendee and Content Area Partner (CAP) at The Pennsylvania Governor’s Institute for Arts Educators, where he informally founded the institute’s podcast studio. Recently, he served as a Classrooms For The Future (CFF) Coach and technology mentor at United Junior-Senior High School. Please contact Mr. Auvil with comments or questions at livua@hotmail.com or rauvil@comcast.net.

=== //**Mr. Auvil is available as a clinician / presenter for topics including academic integration/collaboration, PA standards in the classroom, podcasting and oral literacy, and the educational use of wikis and technology for teachers of all subjects.**// ===

= = =** The Jazz Styles Unit **= The evolution of Jazz as a popular music style is a reflection of American society during the early twentieth century. Many popular music styles have their roots in the popular music of the 1900’s through the 1950’s. Who were the earliest creators of this early style of popular music? What influenced them? What was the cultural and social backdrop during the various jazz eras? In this investigation, we'll use traditional resources and modern technologies to learn about the historical and social connections to jazz music. For our study purposes, Jazz Music will be separated into these historical eras:
 * Pre-Jazz Popular Music Styles (pre-1900) Marches, Ragtime Piano Music, Blues
 * Golden Age of Jazz 1920s
 * Swing Era 1930s
 * Cool Jazz 1940s
 * Modern Jazz 1950s ands 60s
 * Soul, Funk and Fusion 1970 - 1980
 * Contemporary Jazz 1980 until today

Your group will work together to identify resources and collect background material, images, sound files associated with one particular Jazz Style era and the major performing personalities of that style. Research should also include historical highlights, cultural influences, and societal trends of the era. Group members will be researchers, writers, and broadcasters who will create a three to five minute audio-visual “show” to share research findings. Citations and sources must be included in the closing credits of the Movie Maker project! Productions will be shared with other class members. Exemplary work will be posted on the class wiki!

What the task accomplishes
During a brief overview of jazz history, the students learn that jazz styles have changed throughout the twentieth century and taken on various identifying characteristics. The tasks they accomplish during this unit require them to demonstrate their depth of understanding of cultural, social, and historical influences on the evolution of jazz styles. Students apply understanding of these influences to explain how styles developed by the musicians contributed to the development and overall popularity of this American musical art form. Their research includes the use of traditional and internet resources. To share their findings, the students write a script and develop a multimedia presentation using widely available computer software and open source technology.

How the students will research
Students work in groups of three or four (depending on computer availability). Recording sheets and guiding questions provide some direction as they investigate the themes. Each group has access to a computer with internet access and all necessary software, headset microphones, speakers, and traditional resources (books and compact disks) related to the unit.


 * Jazz Styles Unit Progression**
 * Day 1 ** Unit overview, jazz styles video and vocabulary review; use of unit study documents; traditional and internet research guidelines; examining saving, and citing sources; presentation of model project

Helpful Links: Movie Maker Curriculum Web by Barb Bird Integrated Academics Podcasting Help Page - This page has embedded videos about tips for microphone use and speaking Integrated Academics Podcasting Links, Tools and Tips Page This page has a **//Spoken Word Microphone Proximity Test//,** and tips for concise writing, recording the spoken word, and other interesting links
 * Day 2 ** Technology Day – Verifying accuracy of internet information; image searching/saving; using Audacity and Movie Maker; microphone techniques; recording, saving, and converting Audacity files; importing resources in to Movie Maker, Movie Maker timing and transitions…

This is a group work day. All materials are checked out of the library and placed on a cart in the classroom for student use. Compact disks can be played in computers, or on players provided. The instructor makes rounds to be sure appropriate progress is maintained. Students will also listen to a selection recorded by an artist who was active during their assigned style period. A portion of this example will be included in the final multimedia project as a musical style sample of the era.
 * Day 3 ** Perceptive Listening / Research / Script Writing


 * Day 4 (and 5 if necessary) ** Recording and compilation of Moviemaker video


 * Final Day ** On the final day of the unit, student groups will share their final Movie Maker presentations with the class and write a short reflection statement about the unit.