Other
Influence vs. Imitation
An interesting article debating the issue of whether influence and imitation can cause a young musician to lose their own creativity. The column is well written and provides some good insight.
Other
Lego Foundation: The Role of Play in Children's Development
This article reviews research that has been conducted in relation to the five types of play, namely physical play, play with objects, symbolic/semiotic play, pretend play, and games with rules.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Clifford El Gran Perro Colorado: Vamos Hacer Musica!
Exploremos la musica en casa y en clase con instrumentos hechos en casa.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Lesson Plan: Monsters
Following a reading of the epic poem Beowulf and the contemporary text inspired by it, Grendel, students create their own monster. Lesson plans provide assessment criteria, extension ideas, and a list of resources.
Other
Oddmusic
You will find many creative and imaginative musical instruments on this site. If you are creating your own instrument you'll be inspired by what others have invented.
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Counting With Cups, and More! [Pdf]
Help students recognize and cultivate creative and critical thinking using various activities that connect math and music!
National Endowment for the Arts
National Endowment for the Arts: Imagine! Introducing Your Child to the Arts
Creative play with a purpose! Information, from the National Endowment for the Arts, to encourage and guide your children in understanding and appreciating the arts. Learn how to engage them in arts of all sorts: writing, dance, music,...
Digital History
Digital History: Formation of Modern American Mass Culture
A mass culture developed in America in the 1920s due to several factors. Read about the influence of radio, movies, and spectator sports in the adoption of common speech. Find out about the creativity of the time in literature and music.
PBS
Pbs American Masters: John Cage
Read about this unusual but creative modern classical composer. Highlighting his major works, this short biography explores his philosophy of music.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Connecting With the Arts: Why Integrate the Arts?
A video workshop for middle school teachers that demonstrates the effect integrating the arts can have on student engagement by addressing different learning styles, promoting creativity, and giving students an alternate means to...
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Reading With Cups, and More! [Pdf]
In this lesson, students will explore how music and language arts naturally overlap to promote literacy as they cultivate their creative and critical thinking.
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Reading With Cups, and More! [Pdf]
For this lesson, students will explore how music and language arts naturally overlap to promote literacy as they cultivate their creative and critical thinking.
Other
The Royal Conservatory: Learning Through the Arts (Ltta)
The LTTA methodology captivates and motivates students to learn through a unique blending of the sequential approach embodied in the core curriculum with the insight, physicality, and expressive power of the arts to work on real concepts...
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Creating a Compelling Story [Pdf]
Using music from a wide variety of cultures, learners will develop good listening skills and write from the heart using their own voices. This aural exercise will help students begin to think creatively.
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Noodle Alliteration
This lesson allows students an opportunity to explore the dictionary and thesaurus to write creative alliterations about pasta after reading Jack Prelutsky's poem, "Spaghetti, Spaghetti."
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: My Adidas: Letting Your Possessions Tell Your Story
For this lesson, young scholars will listen to Run D.M.C.'s classic, "My Adidas", then they will think about everywhere their shoes have taken them and the story they have to tell. Using literary devices such as personification, point of...
Other
Creative Kids at Home: Rain Sticks
Making homemade instruments is always fun for young kids. Help them make these percussion rain sticks using ordinary materials. Kids will have fun decorating and playing their rain sticks.
Arizona State University
Arizona State University: Water
This online instructional activity from the Arizona State University teaches young scholars about earth's water cycle yet uses music as a part of the instructional process. Creative and simple. Non-music specialist could easily use the...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Present at the Creation
A compilation of stories from National Public Radio about the creation of new and extraordinary objects, films, and artwork that have shaped and continue to shape American popular culture. Explore everything from the hamburger, to...
Other
District Administration: Without Boundaries
Technology is becoming more and more of an integral part of arts education. This article discusses how technology can enhance arts education by helping students explore their own creative talents.
Other
Boston Globe: Arts Skills Are Life Skills
According to this article "the ability to think outside the box" is exactly what businesses are looking for from prospective employees. This article explains how the arts foster creativity in students thus preparing them for the workforce.
HotChalk
Hot Chalk: Lesson Plans Page: Fly Butterfly, Fly!
This is a fun, creative lesson relating movement to music for very young kids. If done properly, it should enable kids to get a sense of musical form while listening to a Chopin waltz.
Ministerio de Educación (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion: Reutilizar Y Tocar
Like conventional musical instruments, objects such as brushes can produce unique sounds. Behind each one is the imagination and creativity. In this site you will be able to build musical instruments by using your imagination.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Stevie Wonder
A brief biographical sketch of Stevie Wonder, an African-American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century.