"Thinking It Over"

Questions on George Gershwin to Discuss with Family Members at Home

1. Discuss some of the early music influences in Gershwin's growing up period. What are the musical influences in your life? In your family members' lives? How are they different from Gershwin's? How are they the same?

2. Paul Whiteman attempted to cross over between jazz and classical music. What examples of that kind of "crossover" music in more recent times can you name? What other kinds of crossovers in music can you think of? What examples do your family members know about? Do you have recordings at home of examples of crossover music?

3. If a concert such as the one at which "Rhapsody in Blue" was introduced was given at the present time, and attracted the same interest among serious musicians, who are some of the famous performers and composers who might attend? Who might contribute performances or compositions? (Suggestion: Choose at least one name among those who attended the "Rhapsody in Blue" premiere that is not familiar to you. Find out more about that person. Share your research with your family and with the class.)

4. Buy or borrow recordings of "Rhapsody in Blue" and some other Gershwin compositions and listen to them at home. Some to consider are: Porgy and Bess, "An American in Paris", "Concerto in F", and recordings of his songs sung by Ella Fitzgerald and others. Share the listening experience with family members.