CHICAGO METRO HISTORY FAIR

2015 SUMMARY STATEMENT

Attach an annotated bibliography (AB) that is divided between primary and secondary sources.
Submit two copies of the SS and AB at the competition. Please type.

Student name(s): Kelsey Middleton and Meerab Kaleem

Title: Captain Walter Henri Dyett : Jazz Pioneer for Chicagos Youth
Check if applicable (and respond to Question 3):

q This project uses the 2015 National History Day theme, Leadership & Legacy in [Chicago/Illinois] History
Project Category:

qExhibit

qWebsite

qPaper

qDocumentary

qPerformance

Student
Composed
Word-Count:

430

Total Word-Count
(excluding
citations):

Time:

Time:

. THESIS STATEMENT
Present the projects argument or interpretation in two sentences. If you are using the NHD theme, you might want to
make it evident in your thesis statement.

In 1931, Captain Walter Dyett, a Southside band director expanded thousands of

Chicago students on a professional career in Jazz. By teaching Jazz, Dyett taught Chicago
students to strive in any environment and live their lives by his famous motto: if you think you
can, you can. -Captain Walter Dyett

2. SUMMARY OF PROJECT
Briefly explain your project and its conclusion. Include: How and why did change happen and what was the impact?
Why is it historically significant? What historical meaning or importance can we learn from your findings?

In the era of the 1930s, Jazz was not a study course in music education curriculm.Many
young musicians didnt have the instruments, or the musical training to have a chance at being
great musicians. Captain Walter Dyett sought to change that by preparing his young musicians
for professional careers in jazz music. He saw that the music department was not going to do

anything, so he took the liberty, to create and organize the Hi-Jinks, a musical staged by
students to bring people, in hopes of raising enough money for instruments. Walter Dyett
believed that nothing is impossible when we work to reach success, and his dedicated belief
that music is a necessary function of life. In a result, thousands of famous Jazz musicians came
from his teachings, and the musical show Hi-Jinks lasted over 20 years after he left. Even
though many of his annual concerts died down, and Dusable high school is closed. His legacy
lives on, because of how he didnt give up. He brought music appreciation and serious
awareness of good music to youth in Chicago.
3. Required for projects using the National History Day theme only.
Explain how this project integrates the NHD theme Leadership & Legacy in [Chicago/Illinois] History into its
argument.

Captain Walter Dyett provided motivation and guidance. He had the ability to
lead.Possessing the ability to teach his students, to share with his students a vision he had, and
inspiring them to embrace their visions of greatness. Walter Henri Dyett musician, composer,
arranger, conductor, teacher, and talent promoter. An artist who could teach, a musicians
musician, a students inspiration, and a tutor. Over a span of 30 years he personally taught
music education to over thousands of students. He developed individuality, encouraged
responsibility, and provided opportunity, for his students to be great Jazz musicians.

4. PROCESS
A. What historical question did you start off withand how did it change once you began doing
your research?
My partner and I wanted to start off with a question, nobody has heard of. We had
originally started off with, who is important to Chicagos jazz scene through education. Now that
would be a very broad question. As we continued to research we found articles The Secret
History of Chicago Jazz music. We started to narrow down to who started it all.it so happened
that we found Captain Walter Henri Dyett, taught thousands of famous jazz musicians. What is
the leadership and Legacy of Captain Walter Henri Dyett? That became our final question to
answer. We wanted it to sound original but also tell a story about the Leadership and legacy our
person, who changed jazz music education
B. What kinds of sources did you use as evidence to develop your argument (for example,
letters, photographs, government documents, interviews, etc.)?
We had many sources, like articles of interviews with his past famous students, lots of
photographs, and personal memorabilia, but on source that helped a lot during the process was
The Walter Henri Dyett Papers It had eight huge series of his whole entire life.
C. Select one piece of evidence that you used and explain how it influenced your argument.

Enthusiasm for the work, willingness to do a job at all times in accordance with an
established program or to create such a program are a must. Self-development professionally
and the creative approach to the matter of making this work an integral part of an overall
program is and must be a prime objective for practical educational and cultural development.Captain Walter Henri Dyett. This piece of evidence influenced this argument, because Walter
Dyett is saying that we all need to come together, to achieve a strong program. For young
troubled adults, to have a bright future. To give them opportunities at doing what they love to do.
By giving them the proper education, they have the power to bring communities together and to
also like Captain Walter Dyett, be a leader for their generation and the next
D .List libraries (other than school), museums, and other institutions that you visited to do your
research.
-Skokie Public Library
-Chicago Public Library