iListenWI
On the Sunny Side of Listening Jackie Vandenberg, WMEA State Chair, iListenWI
The theme of WSM this issue imme- diately brought to mind the great American Standard “On the Sunny Side of the Street,” and rather than explain the listening lesson plans iListenWI has
written for teacher use, a representative example can be found here. The mission of this committee has always been to promote listening and to furnish listening plans and resources for teachers. On the
WMEAmusic.org/iListenWI webpage two other plans are available for download. iListenWI lesson plans from the past five years are now available in the WSMA/ WMEA Account Portal free to all WMEA members. We hope that, especially in these unprecedented times, these plans will aid teachers in bringing the joy and scholarship of music listening to students.
“On the Sunny Side of the Street” From “Lew Leslie’s International Revue”
Music by Jimmy McHugh (1894-1969) Lyrics by Dorothy Fields (1904-1974)
Outcomes:
• Students will learn the term “American Jazz Standard.”
• Students will become familiar with a song from the Great American Songbook, “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”
• Students will learn some basic tap dance steps/combinations to create their own joyous movement to a piece of music.
Style: Jazz
Timbre: Voice, trumpet, muted trumpet, trombone, saxophone, drum set Form: Small – AABA (A1-A2-B-A2)
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Standards: National Core Music Standards/WMEA WI Standards WMEA Standards
Create-
Respond- 7.1.4a, 8.1.4a, 9.1.4a
Strategies:
1. (Play “On the Sunny Side of the Street” as students enter the classroom or log on virtually). Discuss: “What style of music is this? Think about the instru- ments/voices heard. (voice, piano, guitar, bass…)
• Discuss any other elements heard or other observations...old song? New song? Tempo? Mood? Mean- ing?
• Look at the lyrics. Here’s a great way to discuss the meanings of some of the older references… “this Rover crossed over,” “I used to walk in the shade with the blues on parade,” “Rockefeller,” etc. Dis- cuss the Depression and this song’s upbeat quality in 1930.
Lyrics: (Verse)
Walked with no one and talked with no one
And I had nothing but shadows Then one morning you passed And I brightened at last
Now I greet the day and complete the day
With the sun in my heart All my worry blew away When you taught me how to say
(A1) Grab your coat and get your hat Leave your worries on the doorstep Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street
Perform- 5.1.4a, b, 6.1.4a
Connect- 10.1.4a-WI, 11.1.4c-WI, 11.1.4a,b-WI
(A2) Can’t you hear a pitter-pat? And that happy tune is your step Life can be so sweet
On the sunny side of the street
(B) I used to walk in the shade With those blues on parade But I’m not afraid
This Rover’s crossed over
(A2) If I never have a cent I’ll be rich as Rockefeller Gold dust at my feet
On the sunny side of the street.
• Listen again so you get another chance at hearing those lyrics now that you know what they mean!
• Listen to another version with Esperanza Spalding, 2016, at the White House. (Note how she some- times changes the lyrics, and how people in the audience know the lyrics!)
https://youtu.be/TQtXo 4tiZxs
• Instrumental version: Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra (chance to hear big band trombone, muted trumpets, and a trio of women on the vocals)
https://youtu.be/Il25S 7FtKd8
• Jazz quartet: Dizzy Gillespie (super saxophone solo by Sonny Stitt)
https://youtu.be/s8UEGmAvWfM
• Karaoke lyrics:
https://youtu.be/ EQJdCyaQy3w
• Diana Krall with pictures of fash- ions from the 1930s. https://youtu. be/DKrsNdPGnxA
• Rarely is the verse used – here’s a recording that includes it (on the ukulele)
https://youtu.be/6f4fZau_ hSc
2. In our musical history there have been songs like this, that...
• many jazz musicians play or sing and know very well,
January 2021
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