Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain

For Students 9th - 10th
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Anita Collins explains the fireworks...
Handout
PBS

Pbs: This Far by Faith: Thomas Dorsey

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of Thomas Dorsey, the man known as "the father of gospel music," from the producers of "This Far by Faith," a series on African-American spiritual journeys. (The series premiered on PBS stations in June 2003.) The site...
Article
PBS

Pbs News Hour: British Pop Icon George Michael Dies at 53

For Students 9th - 10th
Famed musician, George Michael, died in December 2016. He rocked stages across the world for years.
Handout
PBS

Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Ray Kurzweil

For Students 9th - 10th
A prodigy from Queens created hardware and software to help blind people read and musicians make music. His inventions, writings, and influential thinking have explored and exploited technology in many ways, and helped shape ongoing work...
Website
Other

Janet Planet for African Music Organization: The African Music Encyclopedia

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about African musicians and their music, at this encyclopedia site.
Interactive
Other

Blokfluitkids

For Students 3rd - 8th
Colorful, interactive Dutch language website that introduces students to recorders and wooden flutes. It shows how the flutes are made and the different sounds they make. Site also activities that let students play along (practice...
Website
Other

Classical Midi With Words

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource has a vast array of Classical Music MIDI Song Files. Musicians and composers are listed under separate nationalities, such as: English and Scottish-English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, and Russian.
Handout
Other

Women of Note: Celebrating 250 Years of Music by Women

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographies of more than forty women composers whose works, if not their fame, rival men composers of the same time period. Biographies are generally accompanied by a list of some works by the composer, with brief descriptions. Of...
Handout
Other

Jazz Roots: James Reese Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a detailed account of Lieutenant Jim Europe's life as a musician, his performances in New York City, and his impact upon the music scene. Includes links to relevant people, photos, and a personal account by a witness of...
Website
University of Toronto (Canada)

University of Toronto: Daniel Decatur Emmett

For Students 9th - 10th
This website provides a brief summary of the life and works of musician and songwriter, Daniel Decatur Emmet. Includes a link to the lyrics to "Dixie Land," which was written by Emmett.
Handout
Other

Cybermuse: Michael Snow

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed biography of well-known Canadian filmmaker, musician, artist, composer, writer, and sculptor Michael Snow. He has an international reputation as well as being renowned in the Toronto art scene.
Website
Other

Streetswing: Rumba

For Students 9th - 10th
Very detailed site includes a history of the dance, as well as key dancers and musicians associated with it. Easy to read charts cover films, theaters, sheet music and a variety of other things connected to the rumba.
Activity
PBS

Pbs: Jazz: Biographies: James Reese Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
Short but informative biography of jazz musician James Reese Europe (1881-1919) from Ken Burns' PBS documentary, Jazz.
Article
Other

Making Music: Yo Yo Ma

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography of cellist Yo-Yo Ma includes information on his albums and links to related topics. At the bottom of the webpage, there is a list of facts about the famous musician.
Primary
Blackdog Media

Classic Reader: "Bank Holiday" by Katherine Mansfield

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the full text of the short story "Bank Holiday" by Katherine Mansfield. The streets are bustling with people-musicians, children, psychics, and salesmen-because a bank holiday means that everyone is out of the house, enjoying the...
Website
Smithsonian Institution

Civil War@smithsonian: Winslow Homer's Civil War Sketches

For Students 9th - 10th
During the Civil War, Winslow Homer was a freelance artist for "Harper's Weekly," a leading news magazine of the day. This site examines Homer's work, which documents the lives of the soldiers who fought for the North. Includes an...
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Jazz Origins in New Orleans: 1895 1927

For Students 9th - 10th
Dive into the rich history of jazz as it progressed in New Orleans. Focusing on the time from 1895 to 1927, this site highlights key musicians and influences that helped shape this American artform.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Sweet Old Song (The Music of Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong)

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about and listen to jazz, blues, folk, and country musician Howard "Louie Bluie" Armstrong and his roots in America's musical past. "Sweet Old Song" tells the story of the music and art partnership between Armstrong and his...
Handout
Other

Michael Snow Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Featured is Michael Snow's own autobiography. A Toronto born painter and sculptor, he is also an award winning musician, filmmaker, and photographer.
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Dimitri Shostakovich

For Students 3rd - 8th
Dimitri Shostakovich's (1906-1975 CE) first job was playing piano at a movie house when he was still quite young. He lost the job because he would laugh so hard at the funny parts of the movie that he would quit playing. Read more about...
Website
Other

Rabindranath Tagore

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive biography of Rabindranath Tagore, the Poet, Philosopher, Musician, Writer, Educator, and Nobel Laureate. This site contains links to selected poems, conversations, and quotations.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Jazz Giant Louis Armstrong

For Students Pre-K - 1st
The Library of Congress takes a jump back in time to examine the life and career of jazz innovator Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong. Armstrong is known for his amazing talent as a jazz trumpeter and for his "scat" singing. This site will give...
Article
Other

Guitar Nine: Are Lessons and Music School Really Worth It?

For Students 9th - 10th
Even though this article is aimed at young guitarists, this is an excellent read for any young musician. This well- written column provides strong legitimate reasons for considering private lessons.
Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Eric Clapton

For Students 9th - 10th
Eric Clapton is the first musician to be inducted into the Hall of Fame three times: first as a member of the Yardbirds, next with Cream, and finally as a solo performer. Performing since the early 1960s, he is still an essential force...

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