free music curriculum

Music Appreciation – Pop

Dear Sis,

This is the eighth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Popular Music

Note to parents: I’m sure you’ve notice by now… I’m careful when selecting videos. If I’ve missed any questionable content, please let me know in the comment section. I’ve left out sample four completely, because I couldn’t find a way to present it appropriately! 

Week Twenty-Seven

Approximately 25 minutes

Read playful narration “Pop is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Watch the What is Popular Music? video.

Week Twenty-Eight

Approximately 25 minutes

Read “POP” history text.

Watch The History of Popular Music video.

Listen to Sample One: “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees (pop rock)

Listen to Sample Two: “Vogue” by Madonna (electronic/dance-pop)

Listen to Sample Three: “What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction (pop rock)




Week Twenty-Nine

Approximately 20 minutes

Watch What is Commercial Pop? video. 

Take time to discuss with children how popular culture effects your family and young people as a whole. It might be a great time to explain to your kids exactly why certain aspects of pop culture aren’t welcome at home! 

Listen to Sample Five: “Happy” by Pharrel William (funk/soul pop)

Week Thirty

Approximately 20 minutes

Watch What is a Verse, Chorus, and Bridge? video.

Listen to Sample Six: “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justin Timberlake (disco pop)

Take the time to figure out which part of the song is verse, chorus, and bridge. Listen to the song a few times as needed.

Alternately, you can use one of your child(ren)’s favorite songs for this diagnostic process instead of sample six.

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the ninth installment: Rhythm & Blues (Weeks 31-32).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Music Appreciation – Latin

Dear Sis,

This is the seventh of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Latin Music

A note for parents: Many Latin genres pair music and dance. When a listening sample features a style of music that is also a dance, a video sample is provided in an attempt to bring as much authenticity to your learner as possible.

Week Twenty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Latin is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Watch Exploring Latin Music movie.

Listen to Sample One: “Mambo No. 5” by Perez Prado (mambo/cha-cha-cha/big band)

Watch The Mambo. This video features “Mambo No. 8,” also by Perez Prado.

Watch The Cha-Cha-Cha. This video features “Ritmando Cha Cha Cha by Orquestra Riverside.

Week Twenty-Four

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “LATIN” history text.

Listen to Sample Two: “Anuas de Marco (waters of March)” by Antonio Carlos Jobim and Elis Regina (bossa nova/Latin jazz)

Listen to Sample Three: “Volver Volver” by Vicente Fernandez (mariachi/ranchera)

Watch The Instruments of Mariachi Music video.




Week Twenty-Five

Approximately 25 minutes

Listen to Sample Four: “Oye Como Va” by Carlos Santana (Chicano rock/soul)

Listen to Sample Five: “Bamboleo” by Gipsy Kings (rumba/flamenco)

Watch The Rumba. This video features “Faded” by DJ Ice (Alan Walker Cover)

Watch The Flamenco. 

Week Twenty-Six

Approximately 15 minutes

Watch and listen to Latin American Instruments video.

  • Pause the video as needed to read the text to your learner.
  • Do they recognize any of the instruments from the other listening samples and/or videos?

Listen to Sample Six: “Baila Esta Cumbia” by Selena y Los Dinos (tejano/cumbia)

Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the eighth installment: Pop (Weeks 27-30).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Music Appreciation – Jazz

Dear Sis, 

This is the sixth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Jazz Music

Week Twenty

Approximately 15 minutes

Read playful narration “Jazz is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote

Watch The History of Jazz video.

Listen to Sample One: “Livery Stable Blues” by Dixieland Jazz Band (Dixieland jazz)

Listen to Sample Two: “Jeepers Creepers” by Louis Armstrong (big band)




Week Twenty-One

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “Jazz” history text.

Listen to Sample Three: “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” by Ella Fitzgerald (swing)

Watch The Use of Instruments in Jazz.

Week Twenty-Two

Approximately 20 minutes

Watch The History of Bebop Jazz. 

Listen to Sample Four: “Salt Peanuts” by The Quintet: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Charles Mingus, and Max Roach (bebop)

Week Twenty-Three

Approximately 20 minutes

Listen to Sample Five: “Take Five” by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (cool jazz)

Listen to Sample Six: “So What” by Miles Davis (modal jazz)




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the seventh installment: Latin (Weeks 23-26).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Hip Hop

Dear Sis, 

This is the fifth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Hip Hop Music

A note for parents: Much of the hip hop world is not fit for our most precious learners, but I hope this serves as a family friendly sampling.

Week Eighteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Hip Hop is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote.

Listen to Sample One: “Super Rappin’ No. 2” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five

Listen to Sample Two: “The Home of Hip Hop” by Grandmixer D.ST.

Listen to Sample Three: “Me, Myself, and I” by De La Soul

Week Nineteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “HIP HOP” history text.

Watch “The Birth of Hip Hop” video.

Listen to Sample Four: “I Missed the Bus” by Kris Kross

Listen to Sample Five: “Don’t Sweat the Technique” by Eric B. & Rakin

Listen to Sample Six: “ABC’s” by Sugarhill Gang




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the sixth installment: Jazz (Weeks 20-22).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Heavy Metal

Dear Sis, 

This is the fourth of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Heavy Metal Music

A note for parents: Much of the heavy metal scene is not fit for our most precious learners, but I hope this serves as a family friendly sampling.

Week Fourteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read playful narration “Heavy Metal is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the song and sing along. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can give the best performance by family vote.

Listen to Sample One: “Space Trucking” by Deep Purple

Listen to Sample Two: “Back Street Kids” by Black Sabbath

Listen to Sample Three: “Godzilla” by Blue Oyster Cult

Week Fifteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read “HEAVY METAL” history text.

Listen to The “History of Metal” with Andrea Boma Boccarusso

Week Sixteen

Approximately 20 minutes

Read about the “INSTRUMENTS” used in this genre.

Listen to Sample Four: “Live to Rock (Rock to Live)” by Dokken

Listen to Sample Five: “Can’t Live Without You” by Scorpions

Listen to Sample Six: “Black Star” by Yngwie Malmsteen




Week Seventeen

Approximately 20 minutes

When heavy metal and classical music converge, it is a new twist on both genres. Music always has a way of sneaking out of any box we try to put it in!

Listen to our Classical to Heavy Metal samples:

Discuss with your learner the similarities and differences of each version of “Winter.”

Listen to our Heavy Metal to Classical samples:

Discuss with your learner the similarities and differences of each version of “Bring Me to Life.” 

Optional Project: Help your learner find a cover of one of their favorite songs that is in a completely different genre. 




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the fifth installment: Hip Hop (Weeks 18-19).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation – Electronica

Dear Sis, 

This is the third of ten parts in our Music Appreciation lesson plan series. If you are just finding us now, the text that corresponds with these lessons is Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. 

Electronica Music

Week Eleven

Approximately 35 minutes

Read playful narration “Electronica is…” text.

  • Encourage your pre-reader to try to repeat the scat in a musical way. Being silly with your kids is a great way to catch their interest.
  • Emerging readers can try to sound it out. Sometimes its fun to read non-sense!
  • If you have multiple learners you can make a game of it and see who can say it fastest or with the best musical performance, by family vote.

Watch our “Early Electronic Instruments” Playlist:

Week Twelve

Approximately 30 minutes

Read about “ELECTRONICA” music text. 

Watch our “Early Recording and Sampling” Playlist:

Listen to Sample One: “I Feel Love” by Donna Summer (1977)

Week Thirteen

Approximately 30 minutes

Listen to Sample Two: “Pocket Calculator” by Kraftwerk (1981)

Listen to Sample Three: “An Ending (Ascent)” by Brian Eno (1983)

Listen to Sample Four: “Your Loving Arms (Club Mix)” by Tiesto feat. Karen Overton (2005)

Listen to Sample Five: “A Sky Full of Stars” by Coldplay (2014)

Listen to Sample Six: “See the End” by Above & Beyond and Seven Lions feat. Opposite the Other (2019)




Please tell us about your experience in the comment section. Stay tuned for the fourth installment: Heavy Metal (Weeks 14-17).

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b

Music Appreciation

Dear Sis,

I am creating a music appreciation course using a wonderful book we found at the library, Music is… by Stephen T. Johnson. I was planning to post my lesson plans at the end of our school year, but another homeschooling family in need of a music program inspired us to start posting it in portions now. This curriculum will cover 10 genres of music over a 36 week period. The book provides playful narration, a brief about the genre, an instrument list, and 6 listening suggestions for each genre. My companion curriculum will provide youtube playlists for more in-depth study and linked listening suggestions. I may throw in the occasion game too. This curriculum is suited for family study with a span of learning levels: preschool – middle school, with expansion options for higher level learners.

Without further ado here is the course outline!

I will be releasing lesson plans by genre, as we work through them. The first installment will be available in August, for all those families who will be starting their homeschool year thereabouts. 

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b