PBS
Mpr: The Meaning of Sioux Music and Song
This site from the Minnesota Public Radio provides the text of a 1915 article written by musician and self-trained anthropologist, Frances Densmore. Densmore spent years studying the music and culture of the Teton Sioux and other native...
BBC
Bbc Radio 3: World on Your Street: The Music of Brazil
A full-featured site for learning about the music of Brazil, although not actively maintained since 2005. Easy-to-read spotlights on instruments and musicians communicate the essential qualities of Brazilian music. Accompanying audio...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Benjamin Franklin
A brief review of the life of one of the founding fathers of the United States. Learn about the important events in the life of Ben Franklin - inventor, patriot, musician, scientist, statesman, and more. (In Spanish)
University of Houston
University of Houston: Biography: Franz Liszt (1811 1886)
Offers biographical information about musician and composer Franz Liszt. Includes links to samples of his works.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Pulaski, Wisconsin Polka Town, u.s.a.
The town of Pulaski, Wisconsin claims to have more musicians per capita than anywhere in the U.S. Learn about Pulaski, a town that thrives on polka music in this video segment from EGG: the arts show.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Sound: Using Open Tubes to Demonstrate Beat Notes
In this interactive demonstration, students will observe while the teacher creates two sound frequencies using open tube resonators of nearly identical length. The nearness in length produces two slightly different frequencies which...
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Otis Redding (1941 1967)
A short but informative article on one of Georgia's most influential soul musicians. Best known for his ballad "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay", Otis Redding was killed in a plane crash before the song was even released.
Georgia Humanities Council and the University of Georgia Press.
New Georgia Encyclopedia: Isaac Hayes (B. 1942)
Overview of the life and career of soul musician Isaac Hayes who was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best original Song for the "Theme from Shaft."
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Dorsey Brothers
A succinct biographical sketch that examines contributions to the jazz and swing eras by noted musicians, band leaders, and Pennsylvania natives, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Works Progress Administration (Wpa)
A great summary of the Works Progress Administration, its goals, and the support it gave ordinary workers as well as artists, writers, and musicians.
Vocabulary.com
Merle Haggard (1937 2016) Tribute List
This site contains a list of 12 words from the songs of country musician, Merle Haggard (1937-2016). Teachers can digitally assign this list to their students to reinforce the spellings, pronunciations, and meanings of these words.
British Library
British Library: Expressions of Faith: Hindu Manuscripts
A collection of seven Hindu books from various time periods. There is a written commentary plus great illustrations. The author of the commentary is Ravi Shankar, the famous Sitar musician.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How to Read Music
Like an actor's script, a sheet of music instructs a musician on what to play (the pitch) and when to play it (the rhythm). Sheet music may look complicated, but once you've gotten the hang of a few simple elements like notes, bars and...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Brass Instruments Work
What gives the trumpet its clarion ring and the tuba its gut shaking oompah-pah? And what makes the trombone so jazzy? Al Cannon shows how these answers lie not in the brass the instruments are made of, but in the journey that air takes...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Playing an Instrument Benefits Your Brain
When you listen to music, multiple areas of your brain become engaged and active. But when you actually play an instrument, that activity becomes more like a full-body brain workout. What's going on? Anita Collins explains the fireworks...
PBS
Pbs: This Far by Faith: Thomas Dorsey
A biography of Thomas Dorsey, the man known as "the father of gospel music," from the producers of "This Far by Faith," a series on African-American spiritual journeys. (The series premiered on PBS stations in June 2003.) The site...
PBS
Pbs News Hour: British Pop Icon George Michael Dies at 53
Famed musician, George Michael, died in December 2016. He rocked stages across the world for years.
PBS
Pbs: Who Made America?: Innovators: Ray Kurzweil
A prodigy from Queens created hardware and software to help blind people read and musicians make music. His inventions, writings, and influential thinking have explored and exploited technology in many ways, and helped shape ongoing work...
Other
Janet Planet for African Music Organization: The African Music Encyclopedia
Learn about African musicians and their music, at this encyclopedia site.
Other
Blokfluitkids
Colorful, interactive Dutch language website that introduces students to recorders and wooden flutes. It shows how the flutes are made and the different sounds they make. Site also activities that let students play along (practice...
Other
Classical Midi With Words
Resource has a vast array of Classical Music MIDI Song Files. Musicians and composers are listed under separate nationalities, such as: English and Scottish-English, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, and Russian.
Other
Women of Note: Celebrating 250 Years of Music by Women
Biographies of more than forty women composers whose works, if not their fame, rival men composers of the same time period. Biographies are generally accompanied by a list of some works by the composer, with brief descriptions. Of...
Other
Jazz Roots: James Reese Europe
This site is a detailed account of Lieutenant Jim Europe's life as a musician, his performances in New York City, and his impact upon the music scene. Includes links to relevant people, photos, and a personal account by a witness of...
University of Toronto (Canada)
University of Toronto: Daniel Decatur Emmett
This website provides a brief summary of the life and works of musician and songwriter, Daniel Decatur Emmet. Includes a link to the lyrics to "Dixie Land," which was written by Emmett.
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