When The Saints Go Marching In – Mr. G's Music Stuff

Introduction

This is one of the most famous American songs in history. It is considered to be the unofficial anthem of New Orleans, Louisiana, which is the birthplace of jazz, the only truly American genre of music.

Like our own city, New York, New Orleans is a port city, meaning it is in a place where it is easy for large boats to dock, so it was a place where many people first immigrated to America. New York and New Orleans are similar because people from all over the world with diverse cultures and backgrounds live there. That’s why jazz, which started in New Orleans, is so uniquely American. Jazz incorporates musical styles from all over the world, particularly African drumming and rhythms. When the musicians in New Orleans got together to play, the combination of all of their styles led them to create jazz.

One of the most important parts of jazz is improvisation. That means that you make up your part as you go. Listen to the introduction to jazz below for more detailed information. The person speaking is Wynton Marsalis, the director of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Introduction to jazz with Wynton Marsalis

Louis Armstrong

No discussion of New Orleans jazz would be complete without mentioning Louis Armstrong. Louis was born in New Orleans and over the course of his life probably did more to spread jazz all over the world than any other musician. Louis played the trumpet. Even though he was born in New Orleans, after he got famous, he moved to New York because that was where all the important jazz musicians lived. Back then, the place where all the famous musicians lived was Harlem. Even though his friends wanted him to move there, Louis felt more comfortable around regular people, so he moved to a house in Jackson Heights, Queens. His house is now a museum and it is about 8 miles away from Long Island City. The pictures on the left were taken on his front steps with some of the kids that lived in his neighborhood.

Here is a video of Louis Armstrong and his band playing When the Saints Go Marching In.

Video

The Lesson

At The Piano

Full Speed

Slower

Sheet Music

This song is played with your hands and C position.The biggest challenge that you will have is adding the chords in the left-hand. One thing you might try would be to sing the words while you play the chords in time.

Watch the videos above to have an idea of how the chords are played. They are played with fingers number 1, 3 and 5 together, all at the same time. Think of it like a shape that you are making with your hand to play the combination of notes that make up the chord.

Take it slow and remember to break it up into phrases.

Piano

Piano Challenge Version

Ukulele

Guitar

Recorder

Xylophone or On-Screen Piano

Don’t Forget!

You can look up the ukulele chords and guitar chords and get help with reading tablature,
playing the recorder or rhythm (percussion) instruments right here on my website!