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.
Music for Small Orchestra 1926
Listen to the last 2 minutes (video is cued to this spot) for the exciting tempo!
Middle Music Period (1930-1941)
1930: Ruth Crawford was the first woman to win the Guggenheim Music Fellowship
String Quartet 1931
This string quartet was her most famous and influential work. Here’s the beginning of movement 4. Can you imagine it as the music for a movie? What would be happening on the screen?
Rissolty Rossolty 1939
1930s: Began writing down and arranging American folk music and working with Alan and John Lomax. Here’s an arrangement of the folk song Rissolty Rossolty.
Risseldy Rosseldy on TPT
This classic tongue-twisting folk song now has a sparkling Orff arrangement for your students in grades 3-6.
Also included is a listening lesson with coloring sheet for Ruth Crawford Seeger’s instrumental piece, Rissolty Rossolty!
This two-movement piece is another of her classical modernist works. Pick an animal for each instrument and describe what they are doing in the first 2 minutes of the piece. Bassoon, clarinet, oboe, horn, flute.
Are you looking for the classics taught with ACTIVE music-making?
This resource with lots of movement teaches students to play and sing (new Spring lyrics) the main theme to Vivaldi’s Spring Concerto with Orff barred instrument ostinati, AND a recreation of the thunderstorm using instruments.
“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-
I remember my older brother playing (on guitar and recordings) José Feliciano songs. I instantly fell in love with Feliciano’s sound and cool vibe and have followed him for years.
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.
It’s been eye-opening to find that much of the music I used in my 40-year career was NOT authentic and/or had a questionable past. Unfortunately, many educators are still using these same songs and dances. This page is my aim to give you resources that I’ve researched or from sources who aim to research with the same authentic goal. However…
…our job requires much more than the planning time we are given. In your haste to get things done, don’t trust someone’s say-so, even mine. Always do your research.
On this GROWING resource page…
French-Canadian Traditional Music
Use of the most common traditional rhythm by the ancestors from Quebec is the podorythmie & cuillères (foot tapping & spoons). The music is Reel Turluté performed by La Bolduc. La Bolduc was a famous French-Canadian singer.
The singing technique is called jigging.
West Africa
Sona Jobarteh, Gambia, West Africa, and the Kora
Sona Jobarteh has become one of the most renowned kora players in the world, an instrument that traditionally was only played by men. The kora is an instrument of West Africa and dates back to the 13th-century Mali empire.
Sona’s academy focused on learning through Gambian culture, not a colonial focus. Lots of info here on Gambian music and arts culture.
Diwali
Global Variety
A. Cuthbertson Consulting-Authentic Resources in the Classroom
This website is dedicated to culturally responsive music and lesson plans for your classroom. A. Cuthbertson’s site has music from many different cultures.
The resources on this page have been researched for their authenticity and respect for Hispanic Latinx (a/o/e) heritage, using culture bearers as much as possible!
Find authentic sources for Hispanic Heritage Month music activities. Resources include literature connections, famous musicians, and culture.
This nationally recognized heritage month extends from September 15 to October 15. Originally named Hispanic Heritage Month, the name has been slowly changing into Latinx Heritage Month. It is a time to celebrate Latinx music culture, people, and history.
Lift Every Voice for Black History Month curriculum resources.
You will find Black History Month songs to sing, songs for listening, musician and song database that’s appropriate for kids, authentic research articles and information, and decor for your bulletin boards and classroom door.
Updated weekly, a national or world day is highlighted with a brief informational video and related music videos. It’s the MUSIC answer to Scholastic News or The Weekly Reader!
May 12 National Limerick Day
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May 5 International Tuba Day
Big Carl-An 8′ tall tuba!
How to play the tuba.
May 17 National Bike to School Day
This classic is in 3/4 meter!
Experience the 3s: simple sway to the beat pat-snap-snap pat one leg on 1 and with the other hand tap your chest on 2 and 3.
May 20 Armed Forces Day & May 31 Memorial Day
April 3 National Film Score Day
Music of John Williams
April 11 National Barbershop Quartet Day
April 22 Earth Day
April 30 International JAZZ Day
March 29 World Piano Day
The Wellerman-In Am, uses the full scale. If you want to play on Boomwhackers, put octavator caps on half of your A tubes. So A (oct), B (oct), C, D, E, F, G, A’ will allow you to play along!
Evolution of Dance has lots of great dances and might be appropriate for some classes. Please review it before showing.
January 3-Women Rock! Day
Aretha Franklin
Joan Jett
My ❤️ FAVORITE rocker-H.E.R.
December 6-Walt Disney Day
Walt Disney Day-December 6
The first Monday of December (12/06/2021)
Walt Disney was born in Chicago in 1901 and began as an illustrator. One of the first characters he helped create was Mortimer Mouse who later was renamed Mickey Mouse. He is known for the animated features The Three Little Pigs, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Pinocchio, Bambi, Dumbo, and Mary Poppins. Disney was a pioneer in animation and introduced several developments in the production of cartoons.
Minnie & Mickey
Disney’s 2021 Release Movie-Encanto
December 13-National Violin Day
The violin, also known as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone in the string family. It is the highest-pitched instrument in the family, has four strings, and is played by plucking or bowing.
Pictured is a violin from 1658.
Early stringed instruments came from the Greeks, Central Asia, and the Middle East and influenced the violin that we know today which emerged in the 1500s in Northern Italy.
