Curated OER
Boombox Classroom: American Folk Music
In this music worksheet, students draw a picture of one of Chula's favorite things from a quotation. They answer three multiple choice questions about folk music.
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
Woody Guthrie Foundation and Archives
The consummate resource for extensive information about folk singer Woody Guthrie. Includes a great biography with photos and quotes plus publications, special projects, and events.
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Who Were the Cowboys Behind 'Cowboy Songs'?
This article and audio report [9:05] covers the origins of American cowboy folk songs. Uses popups. Also includes a brief video clip of a 19th century folk song being performed.
PBS
P.o.v.: Lomax the Songhunter
Resource dedicated to Alan Lomax discussing his role in preserving folk music. Discusses the film about his life and provides activities and additional resources for educators.
Contemplator
Folk Music of England, Scotland,ireland, Wales & America
Fine comprehensive intro to folk music of English-speaking countries. Lyrics, background and midi files make this a useful site.
Library of Congress
Loc: Southern Mosaic
This site, from the Library of Congress, provides a recording project by the WPA during the Depression Era of folk music collected throughout the southern states of the U.S. Supplemented by photos and other material to document life...
Library of Congress
Loc: Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier
At this site from the Library of Congress, you can listen to an 82-year-old Virginia fiddler, Henry Reed, playing tunes recorded in the 1960's. Many of the tunes have been transcribed and the notation can be viewed on line as well. The...
Library of Congress
Loc: California Folk Music From 1930s
The Library of Congress provides a collection of 35 hours of folk music recorded during the Depression. The project is unique in that it recorded Slavic, Middle Eastern, European, Spanish and English speaking peoples who lived in...
![Mad River Theater Works: The Ballad of John Henry [Pdf] Website](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Mad River Theater Works: The Ballad of John Henry [Pdf] Website")
Other
Mad River Theater Works: The Ballad of John Henry [Pdf]
Scroll down this study guide to find the lyrics to the Ballad of John Henry, which was collected from individuals in the West Virginia mountains in the 1920's. Discusses the different versions of the song and the history behind it.