It’s time to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month and teach your students about the rich history of jazz music. Jazz is an American art form that has been around for over a century, and it’s a genre that has influenced countless musicians across the world. When teaching about jazz, it’s important to highlight the African American …
Teaching About Jazz Music in Honor of Jazz Appreciation Month Read More »
Amanda Gorman’s book “Change Sings” is a powerful and inspiring collection of poems that explore themes of social justice, identity, and resilience. As an elementary music teacher, you may be looking for ways to incorporate the book into your lesson plans. (And if you’re out for a day – you can even start build off …
If you’re a serial children’s book purchaser like I am, you’re going to love this list! Just in time for Black History Month, I’ve composed a list of 10 engaging storybooks about 9 different African American musicians (Ella’s so awesome she gets two mentions!). My students always love story time. It helps to frame our …
10 Music Books for Black History Month: African American Musicians Read More »
Teach About Protest Songs Martin Luther King Jr. frequently utilized protest songs as a means of peaceful protest. (Did you know his mother was a talented singer and instrumentalist and that MLK’s wife, Coretta, attended the New England Conservatory of Music?) Many of these songs are still well-known today – for example, We Shall Overcome, …
Talking about protests (and therefore protest music) can be a delicate topic – but it’s an important one to discuss. Why Protest Music? In the U.S., protests fall under First Amendment rights and students are sure to encounter them in their lifetimes, if they haven’t already. In fact, students likely engage in small-scale protest without …
