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Website
Princeton Review

The Princeton Review: Career Musician

For Students 9th - 10th
Overview of the life of a musician, the training neccessary to succeed, related careers, a career profile, organizations for membership, and the quality of life that can be expected.
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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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Handout
US Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Musicians, Singers, and Related Workers

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth page covering the nature, training, qualifications, and working conditions of musicians.
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Activity
Repeat After Us

Repeat After Us: Musicians Wrestle Everywhere

For Students 9th - 10th
A poem from Emily Dickinson, "Musicians Wrestle Everywhere", is provided on this site. Students may listen to this poem read aloud by Bobby Allen and can access a printable version of this piece.
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Article
Other

The Musician's Ear

For Students 9th - 10th
An in-depth look into hearing loss in the lives of musicians.
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Janis Joplin

For Students 9th - 10th
Explores comprehensive biographical details on superstar blues and soul musician, Janis Joplin, a 1995 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.
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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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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: James Brown

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical details on soul musician James Brown, a 1986 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline and key songs.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Ray Charles

For Students 9th - 10th
PBS presents a biography of the "Father of soul," Ray Charles. He was an internationally famed musician, combining jazz, country, gospel, soul, and R&B in a way that was truly unique.
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Bob Seger

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore interesting biographical details on Midwest rock and roll musician, Bob Seger, a 2004 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Includes a timeline of key events, recommended reading list, and essential songs.
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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
Other

Woody Guthrie: The People's Troubador

For Students 9th - 10th
The story of Woody Guthrie, the folk musician who wrote the score for the 1930s and the Great Depression.
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Website
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: b.b. King

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides complete biographical details on the "King of the Blues", musician B.B. King, 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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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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Website
Other

Wynton Marsalis

For Students 9th - 10th
In addition to information on Wynton Marsalis's latest recordings, this resource contains a biography and liner notes from other recordings. Some short sound clips. Links to other sites as well.
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Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Music for Kids: Famous Guitarists

For Students 9th - 10th
Kids learn about famous guitarist on this site. Some of the best musicians to ever play the guitar.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Sonny Rollins

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical account of Sonny Rollins, an American jazz musician, a tenor saxophonist who was among the finest improvisers on the instrument to appear since the mid-1950s.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Cootie Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the life of Cootie Williams, an African-American trumpeter whose mastery of mutes and expressive effects made him one of the most distinctive jazz musicians.
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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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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Ben Webster

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Ben Webster, an American jazz musician, considered one of the most distinctive of his generation, noted for the beauty of his tenor saxophone tone and for his melodic inventiveness.
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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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