The Orchestra Swings
“Swing” is many things. It’s a distinctive rhythmic feel; a musical era dominated by big band jazz; a style of dance that grew alongside the music; and that elusive but unmistakable feeling that results when musicians are deeply tuned into each other and playing in sync, or “in the pocket.” Though swing is characteristic of jazz, an orchestra can also swing. Through the Link Up repertoire, hands-on activities, and a culminating digital concert, we will explore the elements that contribute to that magical moment when musicians start to swing.
The culminating digital concert experience is available online to schools anywhere, free of charge.
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Concert Repertoire
Link Up: The Orchestra Swings Digital Concert
A culminating, interactive concert for New York City students and teachers who participated in the Weill Music Institute’s Link Up: The Orchestra Swings program during the 2023–2024 school year. Participate in this interactive concert experience on demand from the comfort of your school.
Classroom Activities
Learn fundamental concepts of music and engage in creative activities through a deeper exploration of the ideas and themes of the Link Up repertoire.
What is Swing?
Learn about the beginnings of swing as a style of jazz music and discover how other genres can also feel what it means to swing.
Rhythms That Swing
How do musicians create swing using rhythm? Students explore the fundamentals of swing rhythm in “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “I Got Rhythm” and create their own rhythm section.
Forms That Swing
How does form help musicians swing? Students establish an understanding of form and explore A-A-B-A form in “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” rondo form in “Juba,” and 12-bar blues form in “Duke’s Place.”
Improvisation in Swing
How do musicians use solo improvisation to swing? Students learn to improvise solos on “Duke’s Place” and “Recorder Mae and the Giant Swing Machine.”
Communicating Through Swing
In what ways do musicians communicate when they swing? Students explore musical dialogue in “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” and musical conversations in Marsalis’s Swing Symphony, Clayton’s “Recorder Mae and the Giant Swing Machine,” and Price’s “Juba.”
Additional Information
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