February 26, 2008

Los Angeles --- Through its ongoing commitment to working closely with students, educators, and community-organizations around the world to bring new light to the unifying history of American popular culture, the Center for Jazz Arts has launched “American Stories in the Schools,” as part of its new, WW-II veteran and survivor project.

First introduced in December ‘2006, and continuing today, the “American Stories” project is a multi-year program bringing together veterans and survivors of WW-II, their families, and their local communities in the collection of visual and written testimonies involving the unending symbol of freedom and hope represented by American music during the war.

“The faculty and students at the Los Angeles School of Global Studies were truly a joy to work with,” stated Center for Jazz Arts president Guy DeFazio. “Ms. Jennifer Neubauer and her colleagues have done an extraordinary job of implementing the school’s commitment to cultivating each student’s talents through smaller, focused learning communities. Thanks to their dedication, they also provided an outstanding environment for the launch of the ‘American Stories in the Schools’ program.”

During two, separate, in-class presentations, students at the Los Angeles School of Global Studies were shown segments from visual testimonies involving stories set in England, Europe, North Africa, the South Pacific, and the United States, with each story segment reinforced by additional discussions on the political and social issues of the time. Following each presentation, students were encouraged to submit questions directly to the veterans and survivors featured in each segment, in order to provide an even more in-depth research experience for them.

Working closely with Global Studies teachers, the Center for Jazz Arts then coordinated with each of the featured veterans and survivors to make available a wealth of invaluable, first-hand accounts addressing the students’ questions. As just a few examples, the following questions and answers were a part of the dozens coordinated during the introduction of “American Stories in the Schools.”

(Questions for WW-II veteran, U.S. Army)

Q: What was the reason people were looking for music and bands?

A: The morale was slipping badly. Hearing the music that they knew before joining the army helped them very much. They had shared that music with their loved ones.

Q: How does it feel to know that you took part in D-Day?

A: I am not going to lie about it. I was as scared as could be. It was a day I will never forget, and can never be duplicated.

(Questions for WW-II veteran, U.S. Navy)

Q: How important was music around the holidays?

A: It was very important. Music was important everyday, and especially around the holidays. All holidays you’d want to be with your family, and the music always reminded us of home.

Q: Did you have a husband in the war?

A: No, I was single. I was twenty years old. You had to be twenty to join. I later met my husband while we were both serving in the Navy, in New Orleans.

(Question for WW-II veteran, U.S. Navy Reserve)

Q: Could not having music/bands have caused us to lose the war?

A: Yes, I feel that having music in our everyday activities was a great help in keeping everyone healthy and sound, with the right attitude, and with a winning spirit. Music always helps if used at the right time and place.

About the Los Angeles School of Global Studies:

The Los Angeles School of Global Studies is located in the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex, in downtown Los Angeles. Named for the long-time leader of the Los Angeles County AFL-CIO, the Contreras Learning Complex was officially opened in September ‘2006, and includes seventy-two, state-of-the-art classrooms dedicated to general studies, the sciences, art, drama, dance, media production, and applied technology.

About the CJA:

Established in 2004, the Center for Jazz Arts is an international institution devoted to the study and advancement of American jazz culture throughout the visual, literary, and classical arts, around the world. Through its primary operations in Los Angeles, it is building a prominent new platform of engagement for students, artists, educators, and the broader public, from every generation.


For more information contact:

Public Relations
Center for Jazz Arts
(866) 950-5200
info@centerforjazzarts.com


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