Music Appreciation
K-3 Resources
The Music Show: Episode 1 - What is Beat?
The Music Show: Episode 1 - What is Beat?
The Lion Hunt
The Lion Hunt
Practice pattern recognition with this popular call and response song!
Ode To Joy Orchestral Flash Mob
Orchestral Music Listening
This symphony orchestra is putting on a surprise performance of Beethoven's 'Ode to Joy'. The piece of music is based on one simple melody, or tune, that is passed from one instrument to another, as more & more instruments add their voices to the mix. Which instrument did you enjoy the most?
The Muppets Tell Time
The Muppets Tell Time
The Gills Brothers' "Sixty seconds got together"
GoNoodle
GoNoodle App
Access this fun, free app for a variety of kid-friendly movement and dance activities!
Sesame Street Series
Sesame Street Series
Since schools closing in March, Sesame Street has posted a huge range of music resources for kids at home. Browse them here for free:
4-8 Resources
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason
Cello
Cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason from Great Britain started performing in his teens. Here he played for the royal wedding of Harry and Meghan. Can you hear or see the musicians who are accompanying him? What instruments do you hear?
Kathleen Battle & Wynton Marsalis
Soprano and Trumpet
Kathleen Battle, soprano and Wynton Marsalis, trumpeter are world-famous musicians performing together. A duet is a piece for 2 performers. As they sing and play do the musicians have the same notes at the same time? Are there any other musicians performing? What is the mood of this piece?
Seraph - a celestial being, often called an angel
NAC Cape Town Choir and Orchestra
All Your works shall praise You - John Rodriques
Sacred music is religious music. Music is part of most religious traditions. In this example you will hear a large choir perform with orchestra. Do the singers sing in unison (all voices on one melody) or do they harmonize (two or more notes sounding at the same time)? In the orchestra, how many instruments can you name? How would you describe the work of the conductor?
Howard University Gospel Choir
Gospel Medley
This selection includes the Howard University Gospel Choir and professional singers (including two duets). What instruments do you hear? Can you describe the differences in the songs of each group? Tempo? Rhythm? Melodies or harmonies?
Misty Copeland - Classical Ballet
Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake"
Misty Copeland is a ballerina. In this video, she performs ballet dance moves in many places. The music you hear a selection from Tchaikovsky's ballet, "Swan Lake." How do the music and dances go together?
Jarabe TapatÃo - Calpulli Mexican Dance
Mexican Dance
These dancers are moving to Mariachi music. Do you know when and where this music started? What instruments do you see and hear? How many times during the video does the beat change from 2 beats to 3 beats per measure?
Palestinian Dabke Dance
Palestinian Dabke
This dance, called the Dabke is performed by people from Palestine. Is the Dabke performed in other places? What instruments are playing? How is the rhythm of the music the same or different from the moves of the dancers?
Joyful, Joyful - Sister Act 2
Joyful, Joyful
Have you ever tried singing and dancing at the same time? Try it. Was this song written for the movie? If you said, "No," you are correct. Who is the original composer of this piece? Was it part of a dance? Is this a sacred piece?
Is there a tempo change in this version of the song?
Simon Estes & Leontyne Price
Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Aida"
Simon Estes, bass baritone and Leontyne Price, soprano are opera singers or singer actors who are performing in Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Aida." Simon Estes is King Amonasro of Ethiopia and Leontyne Price is his daughter, Aida. They are singing in Italian. As you listen and watch them, imagine they are singing. Does the music convey any emotion? Is there more than one feeling being expressed?
Ruben Blades - Afro Cuban Jazz
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Vocalist Ruben Blades is joined by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra to perform this mambo. Mambo is a music & dance style that developed in Cuban dance halls during the 1940's. Band leader Wynton Marsalis plays a solo towards the end of the song - what instrument is he playing?
Trombone Shorty - The Blues
White House Blues Celebration
Trombone Shorty performs this blues standard for a White House celebration of the blues. Blues has been popular for over 100 years partly because blues music tends to focus on everyday problems that people can relate to. Do you recognize any famous people in the audience during the performance?
Faisal Zedan - Middle Eastern Drumming
Darbuka
Master drummer Faisal Zedan performs on the darbuka, also known as derbakki or doumbek. The darbuka is a single-head drum with a body shaped like a goblet. Unlike most other drums which are held in front of the body or between the knees, the darbuka is held asymmetrically across one knee.