+
Graphic
Classical Net

Classical Net: Timeline of Famous Composers 1600 to Present

For Students 9th - 10th
PDF document showing composers in various musical eras from the Baroque period to modern times.
+
Website
Other

Africlassical: Black History and Classical Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Africlassical profiles musicians and composers of African descent since the time of Mozart.
+
Handout
Classical Net

Classical Net: Musical Periods

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains the most significant artistic output of the most important composers within each historical period.
+
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Renaissance for Kids: Music and Dance

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about the music and dance of the European Renaissance including choirs, madrigal, instruments, composers, and movements.
+
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Duke Ellington

For Students 9th - 10th
Biography of Duke Ellington, one of the originators of big band jazz, and a noted composer.
+
Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: William Strayhorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Examine the historical contributions made to the jazz world by this noted composer and arranger from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
+
Handout
Other

Inkpot: Johann Sebastian Bach

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a tribute to the great composer. Includes some biographical history, pictures of the places he performed, and commentary on his works.
+
Website
Other

Lute Harpsichord: A Forgotten Instrument

For Students 9th - 10th
Interesting website on the lute-harpsichord, which is called "one of Bach's favorite keyboard instruments." Provides an in-depth history of this "forgotten instrument" and the ordinary lute.
+
Handout
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission

Explore Pa History: Billy Eckstine

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn of the historical contributions of jazz musician, band leader, and Pennsylvania native, Billy Eckstine in this succinct biography.
+
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Performance Today

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a clever feature of National Public Radio's website. Each day of the year several events related to classical music that occurred on that date in history are listed.
+
Website
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Andrew Lloyd Webber

For Students 9th - 10th
Features comprehensive biographical details on "the most successful composer of our time", Andrew Lloyd Weber. His play, "The Phantom of the Opera", is the longest running musical in Broadway history and he has won an Oscar, a Golden...
+
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: The Blues as Poetry

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Discover what the relationship is between poetry and the blues. This site features lesson plans and online resources.
+
Handout
Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies

Mocomi: Paul Mc Cartney

For Students 3rd - 8th
Interesting biographical information about Paul McCartney, the "most successful musician, and composer in popular music history".
+
Website
Other

Ascap Official Website

For Students 9th - 10th
The official site by The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). Of interest is the history of ASCAP as well as articles for those wanting to learn more about the music business.
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns

For Students 9th - 10th
The companion website for a documentary film about jazz is home to a storehouse of resources and unique features about the historical, cultural, and artistic significance of jazz. With a timeline of key events in the history of jazz,...
+
Website
PBS

Pbs: Jazz Timeline

For Students 9th - 10th
With this timeline, learn about how the history of slavery, Jim Crow laws and other forms of racial oppression impacted the rise of jazz in America. Also highlights the achievements of women, including Viola Smith in this world of music....
+
Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: Performing Arts Encyclopedia: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

For Students 9th - 10th
Did you know that the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is over one hundred years old? Find out why this song has enjoyed lasting popularity. Includes an image of the artwork for the sheet music of this song.
+
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Joplin, Scott

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a brief encyclopedia biography of the ragtime composer, Scott Joplin, whose music was influential in the growth of jazz.
+
Website
Other

Stephen Schwartz

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography and partial listing of the works of Stephen Schwartz, composer. He also wrote lyrics for the two Disney musicals Pocahontas and The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.
+
Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Stevie Wonder

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biographical sketch of Stevie Wonder, an African-American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century.
+
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Biography of Dizzy Gillespie

For Students 9th - 10th
This PBS biography about trumpeter and jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie includes photos, multiple audio features, and links within the text to other famous musicians.
+
Website
Other

The Aria Database

For Students 9th - 10th
The searchable Aria Database features over 1,200 arias from 170 operas by 60 composers. It includes lyrics, translations, synopses of operas, and MIDI files.
+
Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Watts, Andre

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia article gives a brief biography of Andre Watts, the first internationally known black classical pianist.
+
Handout
Northern Arizona University

Sonata Allegro Outline

For Students 9th - 10th
This is an outline for the development of Sonota-Allegro form and the placement of sonota pieces in music. Great site of the aspiring composer.