Celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month!
This month, we celebrate the birthday of blues vocalist Bessie Smith and explore possibilities for incorporating jazz and improvisation in your studio. Plus, one classical composer’s birthday that cannot be overlooked!
April 1, 1873: Birth of Sergei Rachmaninoff
The month of April begins with the anniversary of the birth of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a pivotal figure in the world of piano performance and composition, whose works remain influential and captivating. Rachmaninoff grew up in Russia and was trained in piano and composition from a young age, first by his mother and then at the prestigious Moscow Conservatory. His notably large hands led to broad, expansive writing, pushing the boundaries of piano composition.
April 15, 1892: Birth of Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith began her life in Chattanooga, Tennessee and busked for a living after her parents passed away. She started her professional career as a dancer and eventually began singing in Atlanta’s “81” Theater. The “Empress of the Blues” built a successful career which continued even through the Great Depression.
The Month of April: Jazz Appreciation Month!
Interested in incorporating jazz and improvisation in your studio this month? Check out some of the following resources from PianoInspires.com!
OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Wael Farouk and the Rachmaninoff piano oeuvre by Laura Janota
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: OLGA KERN: A Consummate and Positive ARTIST by Sara Ernst
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Discovering Dana: A Hidden American Treasure by Tony Caramia
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: What Important Elements of Jazz Are Appropriate for Early-Level Students? by Martha Appleby, Ann Collins, Tony Caramia, and Arletta O’Hearn
- MAGAZINE ARTICLE: Gershwin’s Blue Lullaby by Tony Caramia
- Use our search feature to discover more!
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