Women's History Month Archives

Ruth Crawford Seeger: Inspiring Young Musicians With Her Remarkable Life!

Ruth Crawford Seeger, composer and folk music specialist, had an amazing career and influence in the world of classical and folk music. Her music was different and exciting because she mixed old and new sounds together. People of all ages still love listening to her music today.

1901: Born on July 3 in Ohio

1919-1921: Attended the American Conservatory of Music in Boston

1932: Married Charles Seeger

1953: Died in Maryland

Ruth and Charles had four children: Mike (folk musician), Peggy (folk singer), Barbara, and Penny. Ruth also had three stepsons Charles, John, and Pete (folk singer/activist.)

Early Music Period (1922-1929)

1920s: Ruth began studying piano performance but switched to composition.

Little Waltz 1922

Try some movement to this piece in ternary form.

A	B	A
Skip around room.	Stop and mirror w/a partner or the teacher.	Skip around room.
Ribbon wands make big looping circles.	Create a different pattern on your own.	Ribbon wands make big looping circles.
Step/skip around the room.	Float around the room.	Step/skip around the room.

How to Use “We Shall Not Be Moved” In the Classroom

“We Shall Not Be Moved” transforms itself into a song to remember Black History, Civil Rights, freedom rights around the world, and the power of music with its simplistic style perfect for learning in the music classroom. Perfect for exploring in class or performances, and easily integrated into-

Black History Month,
Women’s History Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
Juneteenth
Civil Rights Lessons
World History

Table of Contents

Build a House Book Review With Lesson Plans for Music

Integrate literature into the music class with these lesson plans for Build a House by Rhiannon Giddens and illustrated by Monica Mikai. This book is based on the song of the same name and is the story of what happened to enslaved Africans after the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Best Children’s Literature for the Music Classroom

A list of books from newly published to classics for the music classroom with links, music connections, activities, and lesson plans!

If you are looking for captivating books that seamlessly blend literature and music in your classroom, look no further! This e-x-p-a-n-d-i-n-g list of recommended books will provide musical connections information and valuable lesson plan ideas.

Whether you’re seeking to expand your library or searching for fresh ideas to enrich your music curriculum, find great ways to integrate literature into your music curriculum.

Table of Contents

Amanda Gorman Music Resources and Ideas

Amanda Gorman’s children’s books are the perfect inspiration for elementary music concerts and classroom activities. Here are a variety of Amanda Gorman music resources and ideas based on her books, Change Sings and Something, Someday.

The Playlist

Change Sings

With her poetry of words, Amanda Gorman’s “Change Sings” uses a story full of music vocabulary to invite children to be the change in the world with acts of kindness. Here are songs that fit into that theme.

The Change Is You

Amanda Gorman’s book, “Change Sings”, inspired this new 3-part round song, The Change Is You, that uses an African proverb to begin the journey of a call to action to be the change in the world.

Change the World, With Kindness

Written for younger singers, Change the World With Kindness reinforces the act of kindness themes in Amanda Gorman’s book, “Change Sings.”

With lots of repetition and sequencing, this easy-to-learn song is a perfect concert selection. The resource includes suggested movements and opportunities to create your own movement.

Something, Someday

Something, Someday on Amazon!

“With intimate and inspiring text and powerfully stunning illustrations, Something, Someday reveals how even the smallest gesture can have a lasting impact.”

Amanda Gorman music resource image for book Something, Someday.

As an Amazon Affiliate, I make a small commission at no additional cost to you.

Seeds of Change

If you’re looking for a classroom song about Earth Day, the environment, and making a difference or a sparkling elementary music concert selection that’s simple to learn and features students playing instruments, this is it!

Seeds of Change is a song about making a difference, an environmental call to action about caring for our outdoor spaces, set to a Latin-feel Orff arrangement with lots of maracas representing the “seeds.”