Join us online for a special young people’s concert exploring the ingredients that make jazz the music of freedom. Inspired by conversations between former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor and jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, Let Freedom Swing examines the healing power of the blues. Through the blues, jazz musicians showed that the sorrows common to us all could be overcome with optimism and humor. Your students will learn about swing and improvisation and experience the brilliant artistry of jazz legends Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith.
To complement Let Freedom Swing, our UMS Learning Guide offers historical context, information about the performers, and student activities. We will also make available teaching materials created by Jazz at Lincoln Center. The curriculum will make connections between jazz and democracy through accessible, interactive lessons that demonstrate the exuberant, rich cultural heritage and definitive musical elements inherent in jazz.
Please note: this presentation does not include Wynton Marsalis.
Registration
If you are an educator who would like access to this program and more upcoming Digital School Day Performances, please register or contact umsyouth@umich.edu.
FAQ
We know that this is a challenging time for teachers and students. As you consider making plans to attend School Day Performances in the 2020/21 school year, we want to reassure you that we will prioritize the health, safety, and comfort of your students and you first.
We also recognize that you may have questions about next season, and have put together a list of our most frequently asked questions below. If you have a question that doesn’t appear on this list, please feel free to call our Ticket Office at 734.764.2538. Our staff is working remotely and available from 1-5 pm Monday-Friday, or you can email us at umsyouth@umich.edu.
How do I register for a Digital School Day Performance?
Visit our website at ums.org/k12programs. There you will find information about each Digital School Day Performance. Click on the registration button and fill out the form to reserve this opportunity for your classroom.
How do I know if my request was received?
Once your request has been processed, our Patron Services Coordinator Rochelle Clark will send you a confirmation email. If you do not receive one in 3-5 business days, please contact the ticket office at 734.764.2538. Our staff is working remotely and is available from 1-5 pm Monday-Friday, or you can email us at umsyouth@umich.edu.
How long will the Digital School Day Performance be available?
Each digital School Day Performance will be available for a specific two week period, beginning on a Monday and ending on the following Friday. You may access the performance at any time during that time frame. Please check the website for the window of availability of each performance.
How do I access the Digital School Day Performance?
An email with a private link and a password that allows you to access the video presentation will be sent to the email address on your registration form.
Are these digital School Day Performances available to the public?
These performances are specifically designed for our K-12 audience and will not be available to the general public.
What resources are available that are appropriate for K-12 students?
Please visit ums.org/playground to explore our online video units featuring UMS teaching artists, or ums.org/k12program to download K-12 Learning Guides from past UMS School Day Performances. New Performance Playground videos and Learning Guides will be added in the coming months, so check back to see the latest offerings.
Will UMS still offer pre-and post-performance workshops or other K-12 education arts enrichment experiences?
UMS will continue to support the K-12 community with exceptional arts experiences for educators and students. We are currently exploring ways to adapt our pre- and post-show workshops to bring teaching artist workshops to your virtual classroom.
Will UMS be okay?
We want to reassure you that UMS has been around for over 140 years, and thanks to decades of support by generous supporters, audiences, university, and K-12 communities, we are optimistic about the future. We survived the Spanish flu epidemic, we survived the Depression, we survived the Great Recession — and we fully expect to be around for a long time to come. We will always put the health and safety of our audiences and artists first, and we will continue to serve the K-12 community through digital artistic and educational events until we are able to safely gather in person once again.
