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Honoring the arts and Duke Ellington
“A problem is a chance to do your best.” – Duke Ellington
Our society holds professional artists in very high esteem. Think about the prestige of attending an opera or theatrical performance. Our museums are filled with incredible artwork created by brilliant artists. One musician you may not have heard of (but you probably know his music) has contributed to our society in a multitude of ways and he holds a special place in our hearts…
The Duke of Jazz, Mr. Edward K. “Duke” Ellington. Duke Ellington was not only an incredible jazz musician, but also a band leader and composer. He elevated other musicians to succeed and remains one of the most influential jazz artists in history. Ellington was also just a plain old great guy. He received some of the highest recognition for his contributions to music and America:
1966 – Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
1966 – Presented with the President’s Gold Medal by President Johnson
1969 – Presented with the Medal of Freedom by President Nixon
1973 – Awarded the French Legion of Honor
1986 – Image used on US Commemorative Stamp
He also received 13 Grammy Awards and the Pulitzer Prize during the length of his long, successful career.
Some of the over 3,000 songs he composed include: “Sophisticated Lady,” “Mood Indigo,” “Solitude,” and “It Don’t Mean a Think if it Ain’t Got That Swing.” When asked what his inspiration for music was he replied, “My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people”.
Here is the classy guy himself, performing my favorite jazz tune, “Take the A Train.” Check out his amazing smile! How can you not smile when you are watching the Great Duke? Don’t you think your students will LOVE him?
Duke Ellington, Take the A Train
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cb2w2m1JmCY
Clip from course: Rock History
The arts support Common Core and multiple states’ standards as well as 21st century skills.
Music has been proved to increase brain functions:
For centuries, scholars have sought to discover how music enhances brain power. In the past few decades, discoveries have been made in how the brain reads patterns in music. This behavior increases the recognition of patterns in math. Today, neuropsychologists can use brain scans to reveal exactly where the brain “lights up” when the subject is exposed to music. Reading music, playing music and listening to music all activate different parts of the brain and cause structural changes in the brain that can be seen using the imaging technology. The corpus callosum is a band of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. A Harvard medical study shows that this area of the brain develops faster in children who play musical instruments (The Neuroscience and Music III: Disorders and Plasticity, 2009). When the brain learns through music, research shows students improve primarily in their cognitive development.
Specifically:
- Memory
- Writing and Math Skills
- Reading and SAT Verbal Scores
- English Skills of ESL learners
- Self-efficacy
Clip from course: Integrating the Arts in the Classroom
You can learn about more artists and creative ways to integrate the arts through:
Rock History and Integrating the Arts in the Classroom.
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