Students learn about the ways New Orleans high school marching bands and professional brass bands have overcome obstacles in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to keep their musical traditions alive. They then create auditory presentations on festivals and celebrations around the world.

Students explore the inception and evolution of hip-hop music as a springboard for writing music reviews and researching other genres of music.

Students explore ways in which music can relay messages of peace and how popular songs can be interpreted as commentary on current issues and themes.

Students will understand the relationship with nature reflected in Native American music. Students will understand that instruments have different voices that reflect these relationships.

Students learn about the history of major American music genres. Then, through mock radio shows, students examine the distinguishing features of each genre and how each has changed throughout the years.

This is a link to the artcile which complements the New York Times Lesson.

Students develop an understanding of the history, development, and social influence of various types of world music through the creation of music museum exhibits.

Students will research the geographical histories of various musical genres and make maps that note important places in music history.

Students reflect on how and why music is meaningful in their lives and lives of people around the world. They then create a music soundtrack with liner notes that reflects the concerns of teens across time.

Students will listen to Brazilian folk music and discuss its various sounds and connections to today"™s music. They then record sounds that help define and represent the culture of their school and local community.

Students examine the language used in music reviews to describe world music and explore the relationship between music and culture. They will then write a description of a kind of American music they know well and detail its cultural roots and significance.