National Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM)

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1. History and Origins

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National Jazz Appreciation Month, fondly known as JAM, was established in 2001 by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (NMAH).

The Visionary: John Edward Hasse

The initiative was the brainchild of John Edward Hasse, Ph.D., then the curator of American Music at the Smithsonian. Dr. Hasse recognized that while jazz was celebrated in niche circles, it lacked a unified national platform to encourage the public—especially students—to explore its rich history and cultural significance.

The New Orleans Connection

JAM was not the first attempt at a dedicated jazz observance. It drew inspiration from Jazz Awareness Month, which was created in October 1980 by the Louisiana Jazz Federation in New Orleans. The Smithsonian's initiative expanded this concept into a nationwide and eventually international framework.

Formal Recognition

In 2003, the United States Congress passed Public Law 108-72, which officially recognized the importance of Jazz Appreciation Month and encouraged the President to issue a proclamation each year to mark the event.

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2. Why April?

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While the user may associate jazz celebrations with different times of the year, April was selected for two primary reasons:

1. 1.    Jazz Legends' Birthdays: April is the birth month of several "Jazz Giants," including Duke Ellington (April 29), Ella Fitzgerald (April 25), Bessie Smith (April 15), Herbie Hancock (April 12), and Tito Puente (April 20).

2. 2.    International Jazz Day: The month culminates on April 30 with International Jazz Day, a global celebration designated by UNESCO in 2011 to highlight jazz's role in uniting people across the globe.

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3. Educational Objectives

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The Smithsonian identifies four core goals for the observance:

• ●    Preservation: Maintaining the history of jazz through archives and oral histories.

• ●    Participation: Encouraging people to listen to jazz, attend live performances, and play instruments.

• ●    Education: Providing teachers with resources to integrate jazz into history, social studies, and music curricula.

• ●    Promotion: Highlighting the "Jazz Masterworks" and contemporary artists through posters, media, and exhibits.

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4. Suggested Activities for All Ages

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For Students & Classrooms

• ●    Jazz Trading Cards: Research a jazz legend (e.g., Miles Davis or Nina Simone) and create a "trading card" featuring their instrument, birthplace, and a famous recording.

• ●    Listening Journals: Spend 5 minutes daily listening to a specific sub-genre (Bebop, Swing, Fusion) and write down the emotions or "colors" the music evokes.

• ●    Jazz Poetry (Cinquains): Write a five-line poem inspired by the rhythm of a jazz track. Line 1: One word (subject). Line 2: Two adjectives. Line 3: Three -ing verbs. Line 4: A four-word phrase. Line 5: A synonym for the subject.

• ●    Improvisation Games: Use "Scatting" (vocal improvisation using nonsense syllables) to "answer" a melody played by the teacher.

For Enthusiasts & Communities

• ●    The "Jazz Map": Research the "Great Migration" and map how jazz traveled from New Orleans to Chicago, New York, and Kansas City.

• ●    Local Archive Visit: Many public libraries have extensive "Jazz Holdings." Visit one to listen to vinyl records or read historical biographies.

• ●    Host a "Jazz Listening Party": Curate a playlist chronologically from the 1890s Ragtime to modern Jazz-Hip-Hop fusion.

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5. Extensive Resource Directory

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Official Organizations & Archives

• ●    Smithsonian Jazz (National Museum of American History): The primary hub for JAM.

• • ○    smithsonianjazz.org

• ●    Jazz at Lincoln Center: Offers world-class education programs and "Jazz Academy" videos.

• • ○    jazz.org/education

• ●    National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters: Profiles of the highest honors in American jazz.

• • ○    arts.gov/honors/jazz

• ●    The Louis Armstrong House Museum: Multimedia resources on the "Founding Father" of jazz.

• • ○    louisarmstronghouse.org

Teaching Tools & Lesson Plans

• ●    Jazz in America: Developed by the Herbie Hancock Institute, offering full curricula for grades 5, 8, and 11.

• • ○    jazzinamerica.org

• ●    The Kennedy Center (ArtsEdge): Interdisciplinary lessons connecting jazz to the Harlem Renaissance and Civil Rights.

• • ○    kennedy-center.org/education

• ●    PBS Kids - Jazz: Interactive games and bios for younger children.

• • ○    pbskids.org/jazz

Media & Listening

• ●    NPR Music - Jazz Night in America: Hosted by Christian McBride, featuring modern concerts and deep dives.

• • ○    npr.org/series/jazz-night-in-america

• ●    Ken Burns' "JAZZ" on PBS: The definitive documentary series on the genre's history.

• • ○    pbs.org/kenburns/jazz

Report compiled for educational purposes. All resources are copyright of their respective institutions.