The Music Workshop Company Blog

Each month the Music Workshop Company publishes two blogs. One blog, written by the MWC team addresses a key issue in Music Education or gives information about a particular genre or period of music. The other blog is written by a guest writer, highlighting good practice or key events in Music Education. We hope you enjoy reading the blogs.

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To contribute as a guest writer please email Maria@music-workshop.co.uk

Posts tagged “JAZZ LEGENDS”

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Celebrating Charlie Parker

Posted on 17th October 2025 at 16:34

A close-up of Charlie Parker playing saxophone

It’s 80 years since legendary Jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker led a recording of what was labelled ‘the greatest Jazz session ever’. On 26th November 1945, Charlie “Bird” Parker recorded a series of tracks including ‘Now’s The Time’ with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Curley Russell and Max Roach.

In this month’s blog, we explore the fascinating life and music of the man who helped change the face of Jazz, and was credited with developing the sound of Bebop.

(Image by William P. Gottlieb)

Ella Fitzgerald

Posted on 17th April 2025 at 12:49

Ella Fitzgerald has been named "First Lady of Song" and "Queen of Jazz".

Her renditions of jazz classics, with 2,000 recorded songs, are viewed by many as definitive interpretations and she won 14 Grammy Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Despite a challenging childhood, Fitzgerald went on to become one of the most famous jazz singers in the world.

The Model Music Curriculum lists two of her songs - “Cry Me a River” and “You Took Advantage of Me” - as recommended listening. Here, we delve into her life and her impressive career.

Image: Carl Van Vechten - https://collections.library.yale.edu/catalog/2018461

Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue

Posted on 16th January 2024 at 12:04

This month our blog explores the life and work of George Gershwin. Famous as a songwriter with his brother, Ira, Gershwin mixed European Classical music traditions with Blues and Jazz to create a sound that is particularly linked to his birth city of New York.

Despite a relatively short life, Gershwin's musical output was huge, including musicals, an opera, orchestral music and film scores.

The Model Music Curriculum suggests listening to two of his most famous songs “I Got Rhythm” and “Summertime” as well as “Rhapsody in Blue”.

This blog explores “Rhapsody in Blue” and suggests activities linked to creating arrangements.

Image credit: Carl Van Vechten, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jazz: the “Standard Repertoire”

Posted on 15th June 2020 at 16:06

Jazz standards are musical compositions that form a fundamental part of the repertoire and language of jazz.

They are often performed and recorded, and are therefore widely known to listeners.