Curated OER
Country's Music
Jazz, Blue Grass, Hip Hop, Swing. Gospel, R&B, Ragtime, Disco. So many music genres born in the USA. After reading an article about the fate of New Orlean's Jazz after Hurricane Katrina, class members investigate the life cycles of...
Country Music Hall of Fame
Ray Charles and Country Music
Ray Charles used the pain and adversity from his life to influence an entire genre of American music. Learn about the musician's daily life, struggles and success, and powerful musical style with a thorough resource.
National Center for Families Learning
The Summer Fun Summer Learning Music Unit
Take note. Soul music. Gospel music. Country music. Summer comes alive with the sounds of music as program participants learn about various genres of music, create instruments, and write and perform songs about the facts and traditions...
Curated OER
Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago - Chicago Blues
Watching Great Performances’ Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago launches an investigation into and discussion of how the electric guitar and guitarists have changed the sound of the blues over time. An engaging way to...
Curated OER
Mariachi Mania
Ninth graders examine mariachi music and its different musical forms. For this music history lesson, 9th graders compare and contrast mariachi music from its beginnings to the present. Students research different aspects of...
Curated OER
Thomas Hart Benton: The Sources of Country Music
Students examine artwork by Thomas Hart Benton. In this interdisciplinary lesson plan, students analyze the painting The Sources of Country Music, listen to folk music, and examine how recording technology and the movies shaped the...
Curated OER
Willie Nelson: All Together Now!
Young scholars recite Willie Nelson's lyrics in one voice and then analyze their tone and vocabulary usage. They research Willie Nelson's history and dramatize the song: "On the Road Again."
Curated OER
Hank Williams: My Inspiration
Students research Hank Williams and explore his life and career. In this Hank Williams lesson, students complete Internet research, listen to example songs, and watch a movie all to analyze Hank Williams. The ultimate goal is to decide...
Curated OER
Country Music Mourns A Legend's Passing
Learners investigate the history of country music. They explore various websites, identify the different types of country music, read about members of the Country Music Hall of Fame on their official website, and answer discussion...
Curated OER
Hank Williams: Still Singing After All These Years
Students research the life and music of Hank Williams. They take a quiz on country music, watch a video about Hank Williams, research Williams' song lyrics, create a poster and write a bio poem about his life and work.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Carter Family: Will the Circle Be Unbroken
From the American Experience series on PBS, this is "The Carter Family: Will the Circle Be Unbroken", a comprehensive multi-media look at the early American popular country music group.
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.
Other
Cmt
Country Music Television's site contains the latest news from the country music world, biographies of major country music stars, music and video clips, tour dates, and other special site features.
Other
Deana Carter
This is the official resource of Deana Carter, country singer-songwriter. Includes bio, discography, and more.
Smithsonian Institution
National Portrait Gallery: Black List Project: Charley Pride
A biography of famed country music singer Charley Pride, one of few African Americans in the industry to both perform at and be inducted to the Grand Ole Opry.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Country Music in u.s. Society: Interactive Timeline
Interactive timeline provides examples of how the history of country music can be tied to important events in U.S. history.
Vocabulary.com
Merle Haggard (1937 2016) Tribute List
This site contains a list of 12 words from the songs of country musician, Merle Haggard (1937-2016). Teachers can digitally assign this list to their students to reinforce the spellings, pronunciations, and meanings of these words.
Other
Dolly Parton
A biography of Dolly Parton in a timeline format. Also includes many links to photos and other information about this country music artist.
Other
Honky Tonks, Hymns, and the Blues: Jimmie Rodgers
An extensive look at the father of country music, Jimmie Rodgers, along with audio clips, a biography, and sources for more information.
Other
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Charley Pride
Provides the life story of African American country music superstar, Charley Pride, a 2000 inductee into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Click on the arrows to listen to him singing three songs.
Other
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum: Patsy Cline
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1973, Patsy Cline was "the most popular female country singer in recording history". Even though she died early at age thirty, she had a #1 jutebox hit in the song "Crazy". Click on the...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Carl Perkins
Offers interesting biographical details on Southern rockabilly musician Carl Perkins, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Dolly Parton
This resource provides extensive information on the life and career of country music star, Dolly Parton. As a singer, songwriter, and actress she has been entertaining people for almost fifty years.
Other
Southern Music
Read a simple history of southern music from the 1900s to 1990, complete with in-text links to information on popular musicians and events related to country music. Included are dates for upcoming country music events, as well as a small...