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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

19th & 20th Century Composers: Exoticism

For Teachers 8th - 12th
VH1 Music Studio has put out another great lesson that incorporates analysis, compare/contrast, and musical terminology. Kids will listen to the song "Habanera" considering the use of specific instruments in evoking a sense of location....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Romantic and 20th Century Period Music

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Upper graders explore the similarities, differences, and depth of pop music from the Romantic era and the 20th century. They listen to selections that exemplify the Baroque, Romantic, and 20th century periods, then create presentations...
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Aaron Copland

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed biography of American composer. Site includes photos and timeline of major works.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The Leonard Bernstein Collection

For Students 9th - 10th
The online version of the Library of Congress' collection. Content includes more than 400,000 items, including music and literary manuscripts, correspondence, photographs, audio and video recordings, fan mail, and other types of...
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: The Moldenhauer Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
The Moldenhauer Archives at the Library of Congress contain approximately 3,500 items documenting the history of Western music from the medieval period through the modern era.
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Handout
California Institute of Technology

Benjamin Britten: Cal Tech Project Page

For Students 9th - 10th
The focus of this project is Britten's War Requiem, but there are good photos, a bibliography, links and biographical information. The index page has information on many other Britten works.
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Website
Internet History Sourcebooks Project

Fordham University: Modern History Sourcebook: Music and Nationalism

For Students 9th - 10th
Fordham University provides college-level reading on how the Nationalism of the 19th Century affected the music of the 20th, especially Classical music. These composers lived most of their lives in the 1800's, but are often classified...
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Website
Other

Music Under Soviet Rule

For Students 9th - 10th
Historical information and composer information both appear here with reviews of CDs and purchasing links. Point of view is clearly anti-Soviet.
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Handout
Other

George Crumb: Echoes of Time and the River

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a program, these notes on Crumb and his composition have some good information, and some good quotes.
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Website
Other

Oculus Magazine: Early Jazz

For Students 9th - 10th
Written for an audience accustomed to rock, this is a good history of Jazz, from the late 1800's, when the form supposedly took shape, to recommended recordings and books.
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Leonard Bernstein

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Charles Ives

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of Charles Ives (1874-1954 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Sergei Prokofiev

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Benjamin Britten

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of Benjamin Britten (1913-1976 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Ralph Vaughan Williams

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: George Gershwin

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of George Gershwin (1898-1937 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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Website
Other

The Official George Crumb Home Page

For Students 9th - 10th
The official site, with sections devoted to his life, compositions, recordings, writings, and news. The news section has internet links, and the site has a search function!
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Handout
Songwriters Hall of Fame

Songwriters Hall of Fame: Leonard Bernstein

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides information about Leonard Bernstein.
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Website
Other

Music Web: Benjamin Britten (1913 1976)

For Students 9th - 10th
Quite a bit of biographical information here at Music Web, a very complete listing of his compositions, and a good list of recordings as well.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters:bob Marley

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore this PBS site to learn much information about the life of famous Reggae musician, Bob Marley. Focus includes not only his music, but his religious and political views as well. Included is a career timeline.
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Handout
Seymour Brody

Jewish Heroes in America: Leonard Bernstein

For Students 9th - 10th
Presents a biographical summary of the life of conductor, composer, and pianist Leonard Bernstein. He composed music not only for symphonies, but also for Broadway (West Side Story) and operas.
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Website
Other

Ralph Vaughan Williams Society

For Students 9th - 10th
The official site of the Ralph Vaughan Williams Society which was created to broaden the appreciation and encourage the performance this composer's music. By clicking through the menu, you can learn much information about his works.
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Website
Other

Carl Orff Music Project

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource describes the innovations in music instruction and education of Carl Orff. Details how Orff technique is applied specifically in performance oriented projects.
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Website
Other

Witold Lutoslawski, Composer

For Students 9th - 10th
This bio is relatively short but has many good details, plus a link to reviews of his Symphony No. 4.