Pennsylvania State University
Penn State University: Design a Theme Park About Music
This is a WebQuest lesson in which students design a theme park consisting of musical "Lands," of various styles and genres.
PBS
Pbs: American Roots Music
If teaching a unit about the history of popular music in America, this PBS web site supporting their four-part TV broadcast of a few years ago would make a great resource. Includes lesson plans and oral histories too.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Experimental Music Studios
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's electronic music facility. This site includes a pictorial tour and information on admissions.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Music Across America
This curriculum unit devoted to the study of American music features five lesson plans that help students identify instruments, recognize styles and genres of American music and begin to comprehend the rich diversity of American music.
Library of Congress
Loc: Omaha Indian Music
A fascinating site of traditional American Indian music. Listen online to the 44 wax cylinder recordings from 1895-97! Listen also to interviews of the tribe giving background information.
University of Michigan
University of Michigan: Chico's Salsa Virtual Tour
This multimedia tour of Salsa dancing includes general background information, a chronology of salsa, sound and video clips, biographies on salsa artists, and resources for further reading and research. Also included is a "Salsa...
PBS
Pbs: Continental Harmony
PBS presents several activities and lesson plans that cover the concepts of identifying different forms of music, learning about musical imagery, writing in response to music, and creating lyrics. The Sound Lounge has many interactive...
Black Past
Black Past: Rap/hip Hop
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief history of rap and hip hop and the influences of the music on modern culture.
BBC
Bbc Radio2: Sold on Song
If you love classic pop and rock songs and performers, you'll want to visit this site. Includes background information and audio, a glossary, a guide to songwriting styles, songwriting tips, music quizzes, interviews, and so much more....
Other
Classical Music Navigator: Forms and Styles
This alphabetized list of musical forms and styles briefly defines and describes the types of musical sounds and genres created throughout history.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 36: Cross Genre Comparisons in Hip Hop
From being viewed as a fad, hip-hop's commercial success has allowed it to permeate virtually all aspects of popular culture. By critically analyzing hip-hop music and comparing it with established music forms, the cultural relevance,...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Music of the United States
Very thorough resource for music in the United States. History, genres, and references can be found on this site. Includes sample audio recordings.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign: Learning Musical Elements Through Listening
This is a site created for teaching children the art of listening to music. Includes sections on the elements of music, composers, and genres with more under construction.
Other
Virtual Instrument Museum: Musical Genres
This page lists all of the musical genres covered by the Virtual Instrument Museum. Each genre will link to a picture and information specific to that genre including information on the instruments associated with the particular genre.
Other
Alien Travel Guide: Musical Styles
A descriptive site on the many styles of music. There is information on everything from chamber music to rap.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Music for Kids: Famous Pianists
A site showing some of the worlds greatest piano players ever. Learn about famous pianist from all genres of music.
PBS
Pbs: Music, Slavery and the Civil War
This lesson plan could serve as the basis of a curriculum unit on slavery and/or the Civil War. Spirituals are analyzed, especially their cultural implications.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Baroque Music
A Wikipedia article on Baroque music distinguishes it from the Renaissance and Classical styles, discusses the different musical genres the Baroque composers wrote in, lists the important features of Baroque music, and provides a list of...
Other
English Folk and Traditional Music on the Internet
This resource presents a thorough list of links relating to the definitions, organisations, libraries, archives, museums, research, magazines, journals, discographies, bibliographies, songs, tunes, dances, instruments, specific genres,...
Internet History Sourcebooks Project
Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Music and Nationalism
Fordham University provides college-level reading on how the Nationalism of the 19th Century affected the music of the 20th, especially Classical music. These composers lived most of their lives in the 1800's, but are often classified...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 31: Syncopation and Rhythm
Music students rarely see the value or have any interest in music other than their favorite popular artist or group. By showing connections and similarities between current music and 'classical' music, the teacher begins to break down...
Other
World Music Central: World Music Genres
A-to-Z list of musical genres, briefly defined and occasionally illustrated. [A work-in-progress, not all entries are complete.]
PBS
Pbs: Independent Lens: Strange Fruit: Protest Music Past and Present
Listen to audio clips of songs of protest from eight eras of U.S. history. Explore the lyrics, learn about the songwriters, and gather background information on the music that served and continues to serve as a catalyst for thought,...
Other
Art of the States
Listen to complete high quality music files from many of America's composers and performers. You can search by composer, performer, genre, instrumentation or time period.