Jazz Swing: Pure Pleasure Assignment:
1. Watch documentary on the Jazz Swing era in
class.(if absent for whole movie, see below for
an alternative list of notes to pick questions
from)
2. As you watch the movie, write down 35
questions in chronological order that would be
good for a worksheet.
3. Write down and hand in 35 questions as an
individual for 30% of student’s grade
4. After handing in 35 questions for a grade, form
groups of 4-5 students and collaboratively write
down your groups top 35 questions. Questions
must be in chronological order and include a
few questions from each student.
5. Put names from group on sheet of paper and
hand in a final copy of 35 collaborativelyproduced questions for 20% of your grade.
6. All group members receive the same grade for
this section, so please recheck each other's
work.
7. Each group must then collaborate and
collectively come up with one final draft of 35
questions in chronological order.
8. Each group must communicate with each other
to complete a final draft of 35 questions.
9. One final draft of 35 group questions in
chronological order will be handed in for 20% of
your grade.
10. Students will then write down all 35
questions individually while answering them
during review of movie.
11. Hand in all written out questions and
answers for final 30% of your grade.
** Students who are absent will use the
following notes to complete the questions
instead of watching the movie**
**Swing Era / Big Band Era
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Developed 1930 - 1945
The Swing Era is also known as the Big Band Era since the number of instruments in these bands
was considerably larger than during the previous Dixieland era.
o 17 instrumental musicians or more
 5 saxes (2 altos, 2 tenors, 1 bari)
 4 trumpets
 4 trombones
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 4 rhythm section (piano, bass, guitar, drums)
Swing bands = dance bands (primarily for dancing)
“Call and response” common musical device (musical conversation)
o This is where one section (say, the brass section, i.e., trumpets and trombones) would
play a musical phrase and then be “answered” by another section (say, the saxes); the
first phrase is the call, the answer is the response (like a musical conversation). This
would go back and forth a number of times.
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman
Although the Swing Era was dominated by big bands, there were a few important small groups
as well, including the Benny Goodman Trio, Quartet, and Sextet (Benny also had a big band).
After the Stock Market Crash of 1929, swing helped the country through the Great Depression,
creating escape from economic realities via swing dancing.
Swing, and especially Duke Ellington’s music of the early 1930s, was the musical backdrop
during the later years of the Harlem Renaissance.
Swing served as a major morale booster during World War II.
Music example: “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” performed by Count Basie
Also, please google Swing Era/Big Band Era for more questions if needed