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Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Kid Musician: Mexico's Guitar Town

For Students K - 1st
Visit with Andres during fiesta time at Paracho Michoacan, Mexico's "guitar town". As Andres shows in this video segment from ZOOM, guitar music goes beyond simple sound vibrations. [2:55]
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Website
Other

World Music Central: Paco De Lucia

For Students 9th - 10th
An in depth biography on Paco de Lucia, Spanish Flamenco guitarist. Also provides discography and a transcribed interview with the musician.
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Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Neh: Edsit Ement: Jazz and Ww Ii: A Rally to Resistance, a Catalyst for Victory

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Lesson plan that teaches the roles that jazz music and jazz musicians played in the war effort and that demonstrates the effect that the war had on jazz in America.
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Handout
Tennessee History For Kids

Tennessee History for Kids: Bessie Smith

For Students 3rd - 8th
Often known as the "Empress of the Blues," Bessie Smith influenced entire generations of blues, jazz, and rock musicians and was the highest-paid black entertainer of her time. This website will provide more information about Smith's...
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Marvin Gaye

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides comprehensive biographical details on soul musician Marvin Gaye, a 1987 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, essential songs, and recommended reading list.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Marsalis, Wynton

For Students 9th - 10th
This concise encyclopedia article tells about Wynton Marsalis as both a classical and jazz musician. There is a link to his own website.
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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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Article
Scott Alexander

Red Hot Jazz: Louis Armstrong (1900 1971)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from Red Hot Jazz contains a good biography of Louis Armstrong, arguably the most influential jazz musician. Very interesting and informative, also includes a picture.
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Article
Other

Kitchen Musician Site: What Is a Hammered Dulcimer?

For Students 9th - 10th
Here you can find a very thorough description of a hammered dulcimer, tracing this instruments creation and history. Pictures are also included.
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Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Paul Dukas

For Students 3rd - 8th
What did composer Paul Dukas (1865-1935 CE) have to do with Disney movies? Find out by reading more about his work and life at this site. Listen to some of his most famous music using Real Audio or Windows Media Player.
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Website
Scott Alexander

The Red Hot Jazz Archives

For Students 9th - 10th
Lots of information on jazz bands and musicians at this RedHotJazz.com site.
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Article
Scott Alexander

Lieutenant James Reese Europe: Songs Back From the Battle

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is an extensive biography of World War I African American soldier and jazz musician Lieutenant James Reese Europe. It includes much detail about Europe's life, experience in the military, and success as a bandleader. Photos,...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How to Make a Guitar Sing

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a great project for musicians interested in the physics of stringed instruments. If you have ever played an acoustic guitar, you may have noticed that picking a single string can make one or more of the other (unpicked) strings...
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Article
OpenStax

Open Stax: Catherine Schmidt Jones: Ear Training

For Students 9th - 10th
A detailed site explaining about ear training for musicians. Included are many links to other relevant articles that go more in depth about the various aspects of developing ear training. There is also a downloadable ear training game to...
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Website
Other

Joy2 Learn: Jazz With Wynton Marsalis

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a tour about jazz with jazz musician Wynton Marsalis. Through video segments, you'll learn about the trumpet, the history of jazz and key famous jazz legends.
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Article
PBS

Pbs: Black and Blue: Jazz in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Ralph Ellison was a musician who later became a writer. His book Invisible Man is written like a jazz composition. In this lesson, students will interpret key themes and concepts in Invisible Man that are also found in jazz music.
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Handout
Curated OER

National Park Service: International Civil Rights Walk of Fame: Harold Belafonte

For Students 9th - 10th
This biography highlights how musician Harry Belafonte played a part in the Civil Rights Movement.
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Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: James Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
The career of "The Godfather of soul," is highlighted in this biographical sketch from PBS. One of the greatest performers in the 20th century, James Brown influenced the direction of black cultural music and dance. View video clips of...
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Website
Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada: Willie Eckstein, Pianist and Composer (1888 1963)

For Students 9th - 10th
Willie Eckstein was also known as "The Boy Paderewski" or "Mr. Fingers" for his prodigious talent as a pianist. Trained as a classical pianist, he performed vaudeville and as an accompanist to silent movies, often attracting more...
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Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: Johnny Mathis

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of singer Johnny Mathis, an inductee into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Includes a profile, videos, and a photo gallery.
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Website
Other

Seattle Folklore Society

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is for the preservation and awareness of folk art and music and links that will give more education to folklore.
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Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

The Kennedy Center: Musical Harlem

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
The Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge offers a great unit for introducing jazz to students. Its use of Harlem as the "glue" which binds together elements such as jazz history and jazz terminology, makes it particularly effective for the...
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Handout
Classical Net

Classical Net: Jan Dismas Zelenka

For Students 9th - 10th
Excellent site with a wealth of info on who influenced Zelenka as well as who Zelenka influenced. Very comprehensive.
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Handout
National Women’s History Museum

National Women's History Museum: Gertrude "Ma" Rainey

For Students 9th - 10th
Often called the "Mother of the Blues," Ma Rainey was known for her deep-throated voice and mesmerizing stage presence that drew packed audiences and sold hit records in the early twentieth century.

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