Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Exploring the World of Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This 12-video series examines elements of music such as melody, harmony, rhythm, and texture, and how they are used in a wide variety of music genres in cultures around the world.
Website
Stanford University

Ccrma: Common Music Notation

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource features information on notes, rests and many, many other basic music theory examples.
Handout
Other

Welcome to Puerto Rico: Music

For Students 9th - 10th
A large part of the culture of Puerto Rico is the music of the people. From the early indigenous tribes to the assortment of instruments to the wide variety of dance, get acquainted with the music of Puerto Rico.
Primary
University of South Florida

Usc: Effects of Background Music on Math Test Scores

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a paper from the University of Southern California that summarizes the findings of a study conducted on how popular and classical background music affect the math test scores of students.
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Rap/hip Hop

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry gives a brief history of rap and hip hop and the influences of the music on modern culture.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Musical Theater

For Students 9th - 10th
A short and concise history of musical theater with two early performers and a composer highlighted.
Website
Other

The Basics of Reading Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is an overview of how to read music. The basics of notation such as note and rest values, the names of lines and spaces of both treble and bass clefs, etc. are covered. Includes downloadable audio files.
Article
PBS

Pbs: American Roots Music: Historical Background

For Teachers 9th - 10th
What is American roots music? The term "American roots music" may not be a familiar one, and requires some explanation. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the term "folk music" was used by scholars to describe music made by whites of...
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Lesson 50: Using Music to Teach Personal Narrative

For Teachers 9th - 10th
The personal narrative, apart from appearing as an option in the writing component of many state assessment tests, is a form of writing which allows students the chance to reflect seriously and honestly on important events in their own...
Lesson Plan
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Understanding Poetry of Maya Angelou Through Rap Lyric

For Teachers 9th - 10th
By examining the lives and lyrics of popular, positive black female rappers such as Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill, students can trace a direct line back to the inspirational writer and poet, Maya Angelou. Rap lyrics will help explicate...
Article
Discovering Lewis & Clark

Discovering Lewis & Clark: Music on the Trail

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover how the men of the expedition turned to music for entertainment or to impress the Indians they met. Learn about and listen to Jefferson the violinist and Pierre Cruzatte the fiddle player.
Website
Other

Parlor Songs Academy: Music as Propaganda in World War I

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll through the history of the use of popular music as propaganda until reaching the lengthy section about how music was used, not just in the United States, but throughout the world as propaganda in World War I. Find the lyrics and...
Handout
Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University: Music in the Afghan North, Radio and Military Music

For Students 9th - 10th
From Wesleyan University this is an investigation into radio and military music in the north of Afghanistan.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: African American Sheet Music, 1850 1920

For Students 9th - 10th
View 1,300 pieces of sheet music composed by and about African Americans between 1850-1920.
Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Music

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Here is a great resource offering many free printouts to use with your classes. Worksheets covering musical instruments, music theory and more are available. All of the worksheets have printable answer sheets as well.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Music as a Language

For Students 9th - 10th
Can learning to make music be as unstructured as learning to speak as a small child? Bassist Victor Wooton makes that argument in this TED Ed talk. Free registration is required to receive full access to the the complete lessons.
Article
Other

Al Mashriq: Fayrouz and Her Music: Legacy of a Star

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of Fayrouz (also spelled "Fairouz" and "Fairuz"), the Lebanese singer, addresses not only her personal and professional life, but also the nationalistic role her music has played in Lebanon. Links to significant names and...
Website
Brand Scotland

Scotland Is Now: Traditional Music

For Students 9th - 10th
The history of traditional Scottish music goes back thousands of years, as this article explains. Other highlights include a connection between Robert Burns and Bob Dylan, and lots of information about current traditional music groups...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Music and Creativity in Ancient Greece

For Students 9th - 10th
You think you love music? You have nothing on the Ancient Greek obsession. Every aspect of Greek life was punctuated by song: history, poetry, theater, sports and even astronomy. In fact, music was so important to Greek philosopher Plato...
Website
Other

Arts Journal: Music Page

For Students 9th - 10th
The ArtsJournal website provides a daily summary of arts and cultural journalism from the English-language press around the world, with links to complete articles for further reading. The music page collects links on a wide range of...
Website
Other

University of North Texas College of Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Description of the program at the University of North Texas in the Division of Music History, Theory, and Ethnomusicology.
Article
English Club

English Club: History of Soul Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn the history of soul music from its origins in gospel music, through Motown and Memphis Soul, to contemporary rhythm and blues. The site includes three videos: Sam Cooke singing "A Change is Gonna Come," from 1964, with images from...
Article
Musicals 101

Musicals 101: Black Musicals

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an article about 1920s musical theatre and revues. It focuses on black musicals with links to black performers.
Handout
Musicals 101

Musicals 101: Who's Who in Musicals I to K

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a collection of concise biographies of several performers from the early days of musicals.

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