Multicultural Music Resources

Introduce your students to music from around the world with these multicultural lessons, printables, and references. Use these resources to explore the diverse history of musical traditions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Your students will enjoy making native instruments, playing traditional song and dance games, and singing folk songs from different countries and cultures. There are multicultural resources for studying musical notation, performance, composition, and more!

References Native American Instruments Learn what materials were traditionally used to make Native American instruments, and the role these instruments played in ceremonies. Introduction to Mariachi Music Use this article as a reference for introducing your students to mariachi music. Teaching Native American Music Use this guide to help you address the issues involved when introducing Native American music and culture to your class. Chinese Music Introduce your class to the musical styles, vocal music, instruments, and tradition of the Han Chinese culture. Singing Lesson Plans African-American Gospel Music Introduce Gospel music while explaining lyrical meaning and cultural values. This is an excellent music lesson to use during Black History Month. Appalachian Riddle Song Capture your students' attention with this lesson focusing on "The Riddle Song" to show the pentatonic scale and Appalachian culture. Austrian Yodeling Explore European Alpine culture through folk music and the yodel. Chinese Opera Introduce your class to the artistic characters, vocal music, and instruments of Chinese opera. Israeli Children's Songs Have students in grades 1-3 sing and compare Israeli and American songs. Calypso, Calypso and Silver Moon Boat Students will sing folk songs from different ethnic origins, using stylistically appropriate articulation. Indian Ragas Explore Indian ragas and learn the differences between an Indian raga and the Western scale. Percussion, Performance, & Rhythm Lesson Plans Native American Music and the Flute Students in grades 9-12 evaluate a performance, composition, arrangement, or improvisation by comparing it to similar or exemplary models. Percussion Performance and Culture Students in grades 5-8 study African and Native American percussion, consider music's cultural relevance, and perform in the style of the genre. Chinese Percussion Music Teach students about Chinese percussion instruments and ensemble performances. Use this music lesson to celebrate Asian History Month and the Chinese New Year. Hispanic Rhythmic Patterns and Drums Use a lesson that helps students understand drum rhythms, performing as a group, and improvising melodies. Describing Drum Beats in Native American Music Work with students to perform a Native American song and dance, Owl Dance. Allow them to describe and analyze the drum patterns and changing styles of the music and dance. Mexican-American Mariachi Music Introduce your students to the mariachi with this lesson.

Song & Dance Activities Traditional Circle Game from Puerto Rico Use a lesson that uses Spanish to introduce students to traditional Puerto Rican song and dance. Native American Music: Call-and-Response Introduce students to a call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. Musical Notation Rhythms and TUBS Notation for Hispanic Drumming Use a printable that contains drum rhythms and an example of TUBS notation for Hispanic music. Scales for a Panpipe Use a printable that contains scales for the panpipe. A la Limon: A Traditional Puerto Rican Song This printable has the musical notation and wording for the traditional Puerto Rican song, A La Limon. Music for Fuhng Yang Wha Gu (Flower Drum Song) Notation and words for Fuhng Yang Wha Gu, a famous Chinese folk song. Making Native Instruments Making a Guiro Use these instructions to make a guiro, a Central American percussion instrument, from cardboard. Making a Maraca Make a maraca from beans and a juice can. Native American Musical Instruments In this music activity, students learn about Native American culture and make their own drums. Making an Erhu This two-stringed instrument originated in China, has influenced modern bowed instruments, and can be made using a can. Making Panpipes Instructions for making a South American flute from PVC tubing. Making a Koto Learn to construct an Asian zither – a musical instrument – with wood, screw eyes, and twine. Related Music Resources Music National Content Standard #9 Help students understand music's relation to history and culture. Use resources that support Music National Content Standard #9 to explore the origins of musical styles around the world. Hispanic Heritage Music Resources Add a Spanish theme to your music instruction with our lessons and activities! Incorporate songs and instruments from Central and South America into your curriculum during Hispanic Heritage Month. Native American Music Resources Introduce your students to the music of another culture through resources about Native American instruments and songs. Use lessons and activities to explore the history of tribal music styles. Asian Music Resources Introduce your students to Asian music, instruments, and culture with these lessons and activities. Explore Chinese opera, make a Koto, learn about Indian ragas, and much more with these resources!

Provided in partnership with MENC