July Summer Listening List!

For this month, I focused on American composers. I think it is so important for kids to be familiar with a wide variety of music, and this month the list tilts heavily toward American jazz. Jazz began in the late 19th century, and drew from both American and European classical traditions, completely entwined and bound with African and slave folk songs, and West African culture. We've also got a Sousa march, and an excerpt from Copland's ballet, Rodeo.

I recommend just playing this list (and other music you'd like your kids to be familiar with) in the background as your family goes about its business. After listening to pieces and genres for a while, kids will pick up bits and pieces, and the music becomes part of them. There is a lot to learn here, but we don't have to sit down and be formally lectured about any of it. Sometimes it is better to absorb it and learn without knowing we are learning. :)

The pieces on this month's playlist are:

• Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington, featuring Duke Ellington on piano

• Summertime (and the Livin' is Easy): composed by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera "Porgy & Bess" It is sung by the amazing Ella Fitzgerald and Louie Armstrong, with Louie provided some trumpet too.

• One O'Clock Jump by Count Basie (and with him on piano)

• Take 5 by Dave Brubeck. Called Take 5 because there are five beats in each measure

• Route 66 by the Nat King Cole Trio

• Hoedown from Rodeo by Aaron Copland, played by the National Youth Orchestra-USA

• The Washington Post March by John Philip Sousa. Because it is not July without a Sousa march (or many Sousa marches!)

• America the Beautiful sung by Ray Charles

• In the Mood by the Glenn Miller Orchestra.

• Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin, played as a piano duet by Gershwin. He dubbed himself playing the second part, too.

• Blue Skies, by Irving Berlin (who wrote God Bless America) and sung by the iconic Willie Nelson