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African Drum Medleys
Discover African drum rhythms, Kassa and Balakulandjan. Students will “listen in layers,” then learn or compose a medley.
Preservation Hall Lessons – B-Flat Blues Improvisation
B-Flat Blues Scale Improvisation
Learn the 12-bar blues form and explore improvising over a Bb blues using the Bb blues scale.
Preservation Hall Lessons – Barlines, Measure and the Musical Staff
Barlines, Measure, and The Staff
Explore the elements of a musical staff.
Pianist Sweet Emma Barrett and trumpeter Mark Braud appear in this free lesson plan on the iconic New Orleans jazz song "Bill Bailey" – Preservation Hall Lessons
Bill Bailey Improvisation in F
Learn “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” and the chord progression in F. Improvise with scales, arpeggios, and small motifs.
Blue Monday
Sing “Blue Monday,” clap on the strong beat, and identify the parts of the song.
Bourbon Street Parade - Preservation Hall Lessons
Bourbon Street Parade
Discover the history of Carnival season in New Orleans, lyrics, and techniques for “Bourbon Street Parade.”
Brass Bandbook
An essential New Orleans Brass Band musical collection, including transcriptions and historical background by trumpeter Mark Braud.
Preservation Hall Lessons – New Orleans Clarinet Introduction
Clarinet Introduction
Explore the role of the Clarinet in New Orleans music.
Clarinet Technique
An introduction to New Orleans techniques for performing on the Clarinet.
Congo Square in New Orleans
Congo Square
Discover the history of Congo Square. Students will sing, dance, and demonstrate a clave rhythm, a tradition in Congo Square.
Congo Square: Creating Cultural Community Spaces
Weedie Braimah introduces drumming traditions in Congo Square. Students will design a collective cultural space for their community.
In this lesson, students will learn basic hand placement techniques for playing the djembe and drum maintenance with master percussionist and expert on African drumming, Weedie Braimah.
Djembe Techniques
Learn basic hand placement, the three djembe sounds, and drum maintenance with Weedie Braimah.
Weedie Braimah leads this lesson on djembe drumming traditions at Preservation Hall. In this lesson, students will be introduced to the djembe drum, oral traditions, and the ways in which the djembe is used in West African cultural celebrations and ceremonies.
Djembe Traditions
Get introduced to the djembe drum, oral traditions, and ways the djembe is used in West African culture.
Don’t You Just Know It
Sing “Don’t You Just Know It.” Students will learn the musical devices “call and response” and “echo.”
Drum Set Introduction
Explore the role of the Drum Set in New Orleans music.
Drum Set Technique
An introduction to New Orleans techniques for performing on a Drum Set.
Dunun Drums
Learn about the dunun drums from djembefola, Weedie Braimah. Students will create a four-door foldable about each drum’s features and role.
A Tuba to Cuba Film Lesson Plan – Preservation Hall Lessons
El Manicero
Sing “El Manicero” or design a movie poster depicting main ideas from the award winning feature film A Tuba to Cuba.
Preservation Hall Lessons – Elements of New Orleans Music Lesson featuring When the Saints Go Marching In
Elements of Music
Analyze the basic elements of music: melody, rhythm (beat), form, jazz harmony, and expressive qualities.
In this lesson, students will learn the lyrics, song form, and instrument techniques for the traditional song “Hindustan.” Students will illustrate their understanding of the song with a performance.
Hindustan
Learn the lyrics, song form, and instrument techniques for the traditional song “Hindustan.”
Fats Domino and Dave Bartholomew sit at a piano writing music together. Students will learn the iconic New Orleans song “I'm Walkin'” by Dave Bartholomew and Fats Domino in this free lesson plan for grades 9–12.
I’m Walkin’
Learn the lyrics, song form, and instrument techniques for the New Orleans rhythm & blues song “I’m Walkin’.”
Collective Improvisation in New Orleans Music Lesson – Preservation Hall Lessons
Intro to New Orleans Polyphony
Explore a traditional New Orleans front line, collective improvisation, and create improvised melodies on instruments.
Image containing musicians with drums playing a New Orleans Jazz Funeral. In this lesson, students will perform a two-song interpretation for a New Orleans jazz funeral – the dirge “In the Sweet By and By” and an uptempo spiritual “Sing On”
Jazz Funeral Songs
Perform a two-song interpretation of a New Orleans jazz funeral ー a mournful dirge and an uptempo spiritual.
Jazz Funeral Traditions
Watch a mock jazz funeral and learn about the cultural aspects of this tradition.