Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Aaron Copland

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed biography of American composer. Site includes photos and timeline of major works.
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Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Listen by Composer: George Gershwin

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief overview of composer George Gershwin, accompanied with audio samples of his music.
Handout
PBS

Pbs American Masters: Richard Rodgers

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a comprehensive biography of the American composer. Site details Rodgers collaboration with lyricist Lorenz Hart and later work with Oscar Hammerstein. There is also the "Career Timeline" or the audio/video resources found...
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Other

Judtith Lang Zaimont Composer

For Students 9th - 10th
Website list current performances and latest news releases regarding American composer Judith Lang Zaimont. Includes composition and discography information, along with personal and professional biography.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Leonard Bernstein

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief biography of American composer Leonard Bernstein is presented here. Read the highlights of his career and contributions to music.
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Naxos Digital Services

Naxos Digital Services: Composers

For Students 9th - 10th
From a major publisher of classical music, this website provides a brief biography and picture of literally hundreds of composers of classical music. The discographies at the bottom of each biography allow you to find CDs and often...
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PBS

Encyclopedia of Composers & Songwriters

For Students 9th - 10th
A great resource for learning about some of America's greatest composers and songwriters. From Irving Berlin to George Gershwin, among other, this resource provides biographies, pictures and some video.
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Other

Stephen Collins Foster: American Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a wealth of information about the American songwriter, Stephen Foster. This link leads you to the biographical information which is divided into five sections: beginnings, his life's work, the legend, the problems, and...
Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: Gershwin Biography

For Students 3rd - 8th
A brief biography of American composer, George Gershwin.
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University of Pittsburgh

Center for American Music Stephen Foster's Career

For Students 9th - 10th
This University of Pittsburgh site provides a wealth of information about American songwriter Stephen Foster. This link discusses his professional career with various other links within the text about minstrel shows, etc. Return to the...
Website
Other

Florence Beatrice Price: African American Composer

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the first African American women to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra. This resource lists information about her birth, her marriage and a list of nearly all of her compositions.
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PBS

Pbs American Masters: John Cage

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about this unusual but creative modern classical composer. Highlighting his major works, this short biography explores his philosophy of music.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: George Gershwin

For Students 9th - 10th
The PBS series American Masters features composer George Gershwin. Highlights of his influential career are documented.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Smithsonian Jazz: Duke Ellington

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This site provides audio clips, photos, and biographical information of this legendary composer and performer. A match game teaches and tests your knowledge of Ellington.
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Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Composer Aaron Copland

For Students 3rd - 8th
Composer Aaron Copland came from humble beginnings. He wrote music that captured the American spirit. This site provides a biography of Copland.
Primary
Brown University

Brown University Library: African American Sheet Music: James Bland

For Students 9th - 10th
This website is an excellent source for information on James Bland and his music. Includes images of his sheet music, complete with notes and links to related information on African-American music and popular music from the post-Civil...
Website
Other

Art of the States

For Students 9th - 10th
Listen to complete high quality music files from many of America's composers and performers. You can search by composer, performer, genre, instrumentation or time period.
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Black Past

Black Past: Ellington, Edward "Duke"

For Students 9th - 10th
Duke Ellington's prominence as one of the greatest American composers and key figure in the development of the genre of jazz is highlighted in this encyclopedia entry.
Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Documents Gallery: Ellington and Strayhorn

For Students 9th - 10th
Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, two of the greatest jazz composers, collaborated on hundreds of works. As you explore this exhibition, you will have an opportunity to view original music scores, listen to audio clips, and view videos...
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Other

Parlor Songs: Irving Berlin the Dean of American Songwriters

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the dean of American songwriters, Irving Berlin, along with lyrics from some of his famous tunes from the 20s and 30s era in American history.
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: African American Sheet Music, 1850 1920

For Students 9th - 10th
View 1,300 pieces of sheet music composed by and about African Americans between 1850-1920.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: The Elements of Steel

For Students 9th - 10th
This interactive site allows students to explore the types of elements that compose different kinds of steel. There is also information explaining how each element affects the function of the steel.
Handout
PBS

Classics for Kids: William Grant Still

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of William Grant Still (1895-1978 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.
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PBS

Classics for Kids: John Phillip Sousa

For Students 3rd - 8th
A short biography of John Phillip Sousa (1854-1932 CE). Click to the past radio shows to hear his music and learn more about this famous composer.

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