(Photo: Wikimedia)

这个月，我们将要探寻和庆祝美国音乐的丰富和多样性 - 从拉格∙泰姆音乐到说唱，从古典到乡村，从福音到垃圾摇滚风格。

有人说，美国对世界音乐的最伟大贡献是爵士乐。

你能想象现场即兴创作的公开表演吗？这就是美国爵士乐。美国爵士乐起源于20世纪初，当时非裔美国人正在经历奴隶制，并备受歧视。

爵士乐从奴隶歌曲、非洲裔美国人的赞美诗、和像蓝调这样的音乐风格演变而来，以自由表达和即兴创作为特征。

其中最有名的爵士乐艺术家是埃拉·菲茨杰拉德（1917年至1996年），她成为历史上首位赢得格莱美奖的非洲裔美国女歌手。

菲茨杰拉德，或“歌曲界的第一夫人”以用自己的声音模仿爵士乐队的铜管乐器而闻名- 你不妨也来试一试？

更多信息：http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm 

This month we are going to explore and celebrate the rich variety and diversity of American Music – from Ragtime to Rap, Classical to Country, Gospel to Grunge.  

It has been said that America’s greatest musical contribution to the world is Jazz.  

Can you imagine making something up on the spot for a public performance? This is American Jazz. American Jazz originated in the early 20th century out of the African American experience with slavery and discrimination.

Evolved from slave songs, African American hymns, and music styles like the blues, jazz is characterized by improvisation in an expression of freedom.

One of the best known jazz artists is Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996), a singer who made history by becoming the first African American woman to win a Grammy.

Fitzgerald, or the “First Lady of Song,” is famous for using her voice to mimic the sounds of brass instruments in a jazz band - why don’t you give it a try?

More information: http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/history_of_jazz.htm