Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: I Could Be the Next Beethoven
In this lesson, students write the words and compose a melody for a school alma mater.
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Module K: Shapes
In this series of STEAM activities, students will discover the concepts of geometry through shape exploration and the creation of choreographic sequences. Another activity in this module will allow students to identify shapes by applying...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke's Music Class
Learn about jazz from the master, Duke Ellington. Three activities explore his role as jazz composer, orchestra leader, and pianist.
PBS
Pbs: Black and Blue: Jazz in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man
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.
Classical Net
Classical Net: Renaissance Repertoire: Renaissance Composers
Those well-versed in music will find this site helpful, as it offers biographical information on a number of Renaissance composers, along with pictures and information on compositions.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Dance Theory and Composition
This resource provides information and sources that discuss the elements of dance.
Library of Congress
Loc: Marching to a New Tune
Learn about John Philip Sousa's last composition, "The Library of Congress March," which was performed for the first time in 2003.
Other
Guitar Nine: So You Want to Be a Songwriter?
As the title suggests, this column deals with songwriting. It does not tell you specifically how to write a song, but it does cover a lot of good information and advice and how to get started.
Other
Rock Instrumental Songwriting
Aimed primarily at the young guitarist, this column addresses how to begin writing your own songs. There is some good advice on how to begin to think of the structure of your song as opposed to just thinking of a few riffs.
Other
Examples of Music Scores: Hildegard of Bingen
Images and descriptions of original compositions by Bingen.
Other
Afri Classical: Scott Joplin (C. 1867 1917)
A detailed biography of Scott Joplin's life, with a resource list and a lengthy bibliography that includes his musical compositions.
National Arts Centre (Canada)
Arts Alive: Ludwig Van Beethoven
This site from the National Arts Centre of Canada explores the life of Beethoven (1770-1827 CE). Read about his education, musical contemporaries, loss of hearing, and his death. There are also discussions of many of his famous works,...
PBS
Pbs Kids Go: Chuck Vanderchuck "Something Something" Explosion!
Interactive site that teaches kids about jazz, jazz instruments, and writing jazz music. Includes games,videos, and lots of great sounds.
Other
Georg Philipp Telemann: A Biographical Note
A nice, in-depth biography on composer Georg Philipp Telemann is found here. Details on his compositions and life as a composer are given.
PBS
Pbs: Caillou's Magic Keyboard
This site allows young children to explore composition using elements supplied by the program, to create short, original musical pieces. The instructions are read aloud.
Other
Virtual Composer
Compose music with this interesting online tool. To compose, you click small boxes on a grid. The grid is continuously scanned with a line that passes over your clicked boxes which in turn plays their sounds. You can listen to other...
Classical Net
Classical Net: Johann David Heinichen
A very interesting page outlining the life of composer Johann David Heinichen. This site includes his biography, a list of his compositions and links to some of his recorded music.
Classical Net
Classical Net: Francis Poulenc
A look at the life of French composer, Francis Poulenc and the influences on his music. Contains a list of his compositions.
Other
Berklee.com: Composition Major
This site gives details to what a composer, an arranger, and a conductor really do. Includes other related careers as well.
Then Again
Then Again: Web Chron: Frederick Chopin
This site from the North Park University provides a brief biographical sketch of pianist Frederick Chopin describes briefly the Polish nationalist themes in his compositions.
Lonely Planet
Lonely Planet: Russia
A concise summary on the cultural heritage of Russia. The fields of literature, architecture, ballet, musical composition and performance are mentioned, as well as language and religion.
Other
George Crumb: Echoes of Time and the River
Part of a program, these notes on Crumb and his composition have some good information, and some good quotes.
Other
The Official George Crumb Home Page
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!