Lesson 5 - Experience
Reader’s Theatre
The Grown-Up Scoop
Books Alive! Student Entertainment (BASE) Reader’s Theatre is designed to engage participants in social emotional learning and apply lessons taught through reading and stories.
Creating Your Production
Together create your own version of The Sound That Jazz Makes in its entirety or part. To help you through this process, follow these five steps:
1. Think about a journey you will take. Use VOICE/WORDS, to describe a plan, divided into three parts: a beginning, a middle, and an end. Just a sentence or two will do!
Which aspects of Africa might you highlight (Animals, dancing, priests, rain chants?)
How will you demonstrate slavery with dignity and sensitivity? (Consult your admins and coworkers)
What locations will you include and how will you portray them? (New Orleans, Harlem, saloons?)
2. Next, think about the BODY and the movement /music for the journey:
Just as jazz changes tempo, will student switch from quick to slow movement?
Will you incorporate various jazz standards? Do you prefer instrumental or vocals?
From the Charleston to the Lindy Hop, might you incorporate simple jazz dance steps?
3. Use your IMAGINATION, creating/collecting some props/costumes from around the house/classroom. Go back to your plan, the middle of your journey:
Can you access to the instruments discussed (drum, kalimba, saxophone, trumpet, guitar)? Could you design them with materials like margarine tubs, shoe boxes, or old shipping tubes?
How can you respectfully portray the grueling field work forced onto African Americans and the sorrow songs that helped to ease the suffering?
Explore style icons of jazz! Billy Holiday wore gardenias in her hair while Dizzy Gillespie donned a black beret and black-rimmed horn glasses… talk about cool!
4. Now FOCUS:
Collaboration often leads to inspiration! The teaching of slavery can feel daunting, particularly in the elementary grade bands. We strongly encourage you to reach out to fellow teachers while developing your reader’s theater experience. From past experiences and advice to creative problem solving, your peers will likely have guidance and reassurance to share.
5. PRACTICE: run through your production in full costumes and using all your props.
COOPERATION for your own dress rehearsals: Not all children may want to perform, solo or in a group. All members of a family, classroom, or community can contribute to a performance. Cooperating comes in many forms: gathering props; drawing artwork for scenery, invitations, programs; creating outfits; singing/dancing; providing background sounds; adjusting lighting; distributing flyers; and LISTENING!
Perform!
You’ve created your play, now it’s time to perform it! When your group feels ready, invite an audience. Your audience could be family members, friends, other students/classes, or community members!
