King Louie-A lesson on Louis Armstrong

In October I was invited to an Elementary school to share some of the Hands on Black History collection.  I presented to the whole school and talked about how the Hands on Black History museum had come into being. I highlighted the talk with artifacts, books and posters with the hopes of inspiring students to create their own living museum during Black history month.  Afterward, I shared time with teachers and answered questions about how they might bring their museum to life and offered a variety of people they might highlight.  Yesterday, (February 27th) I returned to the school and was able to see the hard work the students and teachers had put in place for the month .  The School library proudly displayed exhibits that classes had created, highlighting the accomplishments of African Americans, some familiar faces but, to my delight, some new and less known figures in Black history.  To add to the end of the month celebration we presented at a whole school assembly, about 460 students.  The students were treated to a lesson about Louis Armstrong  

We set up a display of posters, books and records that acted as our backdrop and was available for students to view after the assembly.  After sharing highlights of Armstrong's life, students were able to hear first hand how he had influenced band leader and trumpeter T.J. Muller.  T.J. played the cornet for students while sharing facts about Armstrong,  his life, and trumpet style.  T.J also demonstrated different instruments (banjo, tuba, clarinet, and trombone) that would have been played in traditional Jazz bands when Louis Armstrong was popular. Students giggled and smiled  with delight as they listened to scat singing in a rendition of Heebie Jeebies sung by Muller. The finale was listening to a recording of Louis Armstrong's  La Vie En Rose.  T.J. played in between Armstrong's singing and trumpet playing creating a beautiful musical conversation between the two artists.  Just imagine, 460 students plus staff sitting quietly,  being transported back to the very early days of Jazz,  connected through the joy of the music.  What a treat!  Hail, King Louie!  Thank you for your gift of music. 

P.S.  Thank you to the Elementary school here in St. Louis for having us.  Keep up the fantastic work of sharing the history of all of us!