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The Life and Music of Erskine Hawkins
Lessons 021 - 022
DATES Jan. 23 – Feb. 3, 2012 (2 classes)
Lessons © www.musictechteacher.com / Ms. Karen L. Garrett
Each Music Technology student in the 2nd - 5th grades will receive one 30-45 minute lesson per week. The class structure is ‘work-at-your-own-pace’ because students are not required to have any materials or music equipment to participate.
Essential Questions: Who was Erskine Hawkins? What type of music was he famous for composing and performing? What is Tuxedo Junction?
Objectives:
* Students will study the life of a famous jazz musician – Erskine Hawkins
* Selected students will start working on ‘Tuxedo Junction.’
* Students will complete a quiz about Erskine Hawkins on our website.
* Students will complete one or two pages in the Alfred Basic Piano Library Level 1A (varies based on student level).
Materials:
Alfred 1A Piano Books, keyboards and related equipment, computers with our website posted, recording of a composition and / or video by Erskine Hawkins viewed from the teacher’s laptop and a projector, copies of Tuxedo Junction music.
Standards:
National MENC Standards:
(2) Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
(6) Listening to, analyzing and describing music.
(9) Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
TI:ME Technology Strategies:
(4) Technology-Assisted Learning
(5) Multimedia and Digitized media
Procedures:
1) The teacher will introduce information about Erskine Hawkins. Some of the sources include information from the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and various websites about Erskine Hawkins. The teacher will play a selection of music from Erskine Hawkins (Tuxedo Junction - MP3 - iTunes). Show a brief video clip of Erskine Hawkins from YouTube (advertising cut, filmed in 1938 – unknown song).
2) The students will complete the Quiz on Erskine Hawkins on our website. Record the grade for each student or have the student print the score if a printer is available. Students that receive a high score may get a reward (music pencil, stickers, buttons).
3) Selected students who are interested in playing more difficult music may start working on ‘Tuxedo Junction’ on the keyboard. This could be one of our selections to play for the All City Band Evaluation in April/May if students can play it well. Music handouts are available and the music is also posted in students’ Noteflight accounts. We are also going to try and prepare this song for the Black History Program in late February.
4) Students will complete various pages in the Alfred Basic Piano Library Book 1 based on individual student progress. Video (digital camera) some of the students and post it immediately using the projector for review and feedback. They also may choose to play songs from our website (Piano practice pages).
5) If time allows, students may play some of the other quizzes on our website related to other jazz musicians. A Jazz Musician Help Page is available on the site to read about other jazz musicians and listen to clips of music by each musician. Students may also work on Sibelius or Noteflight music notation projects.
Evaluation…
- Students will answer questions successfully demonstrating knowledge about the life of Erskine Hawkins.
- Students will complete the Erskine Hawkins quiz with a score of 80 or higher.
- Students complete the assigned pages in the Alfred Basic Piano Book with understanding of concepts and performance of the songs for the teacher.
- Selected students will show an understanding of how to perform the first lines of ‘Tuxedo Junction’ on the keyboard.
Essential Questions: Who was Erskine Hawkins? What type of music was he famous for composing and performing? What is Tuxedo Junction?
Erskine Hawkins (1914-1993) was a famous jazz composer and trumpet player. One of the most famous recordings
that Erskine Hawkins wrote and performed was ‘Tuxedo Junction.’ Tuxedo Junction was a street car crossing and a
dance hall at the corner of 19th Street and Ensley Avenue in Birmingham.
From the Alabama Music Hall of Fame - “He drew on memories of a neighborhood nightspot for his classic big band standard "Tuxedo Junction," a jazzy number that became the most popular song of the World War II era. Hawkins was born in
Birmingham in 1914, the son of a U.S. soldier who lost his life in military action during the first world war. The young
musician began playing drums at the age of 7, moved on to the trombone, then decided at the age of 13 to play the
trumpet. While attending the State Teachers College in Montgomery, Hawkins became leader of a band called the
Bama State Collegians. The group traveled to New York City during the depression and generated funds used to
help keep the institution afloat during its hard times. The band drew a strong public following, especially at the
posh Savoy Ballroom. During the 40s and 50s, Hawkins helped discover several first-rate jazz musicians who drifted
in and out of his band, including Paul and Wilbur Bascomb, Sammy Lowe, Haywood Henry and Avery Parrish.
He also became one of the principal influences on a young rhythm and blues piano player named Ray Charles.”
Extension:
- Use your Noteflight account to practice ‘Tuxedo Junction’ along with the keyboard.
- Make your own Erskine Hawkins quiz using Hot Potatoes software and the handout worksheets about Armstrong.
- Research additional information about Erskine Hawkins on the Internet.
