Jump to Jazz Meets Ballet Playlist

Jazz and Ballet don’t seem to have anything in common. At least not until Duke Ellington came along and put his jazzy spin on one of Tchaikovsky’s most loved and recognizable ballets. But what are the characteristics of jazz music? What type of music is usually used as the backdrop to a ballet? Let’s take a look! 👀

Right away we can see that Jazz and Ballet are two different things. Jazz is a type of music-just like country or hip-hop or pop. Ballet, on the other hand, is a style of dance-like modern or contemporary or tap. One of the most recognizable characteristics of jazz music is the use of improvisation. When musicians improvise, they make up the music as they play. They don’t play specific notes that were composed (written) by someone else. Have you ever seen a group of musicians playing together and during part of the song, one musician steps forward to play a solo? That’s improvisation! The musician is playing what they feel and they almost never play their solo the same way twice!

Ko-Ko

Charlie Parker

1945

When you hear the words “classical music,” you probably think of an orchestra with lots of instruments and long songs without words. Classical music is usually used for ballets and is just as important to creating the mood as the dancers and set (stage props and backdrop). Listen to these movements (songs) from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Close your eyes and try to imagine what the costumes, set and dancing might look like. You may even want to try making up a dance of your own!

Mother Ginger and the Clowns

Fir Trees at Winter

Chocolate, Spanish Dance

Because the ballet is usually performed with lots of instruments (some of them really big like the piano and harp and timpani),
most ballets are performed in the theater. Jazz is also often played indoors at night-clubs or private parties,
but jazz is also great for on the go! I mean the saints have to go marching somewhere!

When the Saints Go Marching In

New Orleans Traditional Jazz Band

Copmton

Listen to the following songs. Do they sound jazzy to you or more like they could be the music for a ballet?

Printable available for this listening activity on Music Library’s Teachers Pay Teachers Store.