Research > Homework Center > Music

Music

Megasites
Artists & musicians biographies
Classical
Country
Electronic
Folk, Blues & Bluegrass
Hymns, spirituals, & patriotic songs
Jazz
Lyrics & Songbooks

Music theory (Reading Music, etc.)
Native American
Punk
Orchestra / Opera
Rap / Hip-Hop
Rock
World Music
Types of instruments
Music lessons

Megasites

Creating Music: http://www.creatingmusic.com/

Activities, games and puzzles about music. The Shockwave plug-in is required for most of them.
Essentials of Music: http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/

This website is a great introduction to music through the ages. Get a sense of how music has grown and changed over time while learning about the greats in classical music, jazz, and more. The website has over 200 audio clips of music organized by genre, era, and composer. A music glossary is also available.
Heart & Soul: A Celebration of African American Music: http://www2.worldbook.com/features/aamusic/html/intro.htm

This World Book website briefly describes who and how African Americans influenced different types of music. This is a great starting point to learn more about jazz, blues, spirituals and more.
Music Notes: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=15413&url=15413/

This Thinkquest website provides an extensive survey of musical history, instruments, genres, music theory, games and more.
Music Dictionary Online: http://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheorydefs.htm

Online dictionary of music.
Online Music Encyclopedia: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=10400&url=10400/html/

Sound clips using RealAudio focus on different areas of music and people, such as saxaphone greats.

Classical Music

The Classical Music Archives: http://www.classicalarchives.com/

Listen to classical music right on the web!

Country Music

The History of Country Music: http://www.roughstock.com/history/

This website introduces the history of country music from its beginnings in the early 20th century to the present.
Country Music Hall of Fame: http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com

Discover who the key figures in country music have been.

Electronic Music

turntables: Scratch Simulator: http://www.turntables.de/start.htm

This interactive website lets you practice scratching using preselected music samples and beats. Graphic intensive website uses Flash plug-in.
turntables: Scratch Simulator: http://www.infinitewheel.com/dubselector.html

At this website you mix up samples to make music. Graphic intensive website uses Flash plug-in.

Folk Music

Lift Every Voice: Music in American Life: http://www.lib.virginia.edu/speccol/exhibits/music/

This website explores folk music of ballads, spiritual, patriotic, and protest songs.

Blues

The Blues: http://www.pbs.org/theblues/

PBS seven-part special explores the history of the blues.
Blues Hall of Fame: http://www.blues.org/halloffame/

Browse or search for inductees.

Bluegrass

The Mississippi River of Song: http://www.pbs.org/riverofsong/

This website looks back at American music at the end of the 20th century. It includes biographies of key folk, blues, bluegrass, and gospel musicians as well as connects the music with the river. The website includes a teacher's guide.

Hymns, spirituals, & patriotic songs

Hymns & Spirituals megasites
Patriotic Songs

Hymns & Spirituals megasites

International Gospel Music Halll of Fame & Museum: http://www.igmhf.org/Web site/html_pages/subpages/history/history.html

View the music tree graphic to learn how all musical genres connect to each other. The website also includes a history of gospel music.
Sweet Chariot: The History of the Spirituals: http://ctl.du.edu/spirituals/

History of spirituals.
Negro Spirituals: http://www.negrospirituals.com/

History of Negro spirituals.

Patriotic Songs

History of Patriotic Songs: http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/reference/styles/patriotic.html

Brief history of well-known patriotic songs.

Jazz

Jazz: A Film by Ken Burns: http://www.pbs.org/jazz/

This PBS companion website presents the history of jazz, including biographies, a jazz timeline, definitions and audio examples of jazz styles through the decades, and explore the impact of popular culture on jazz. Visit the "Jazz Kids" section introduces younger children to key jazz musicians or go to the Imrovisation Station to create your own beat beatnik jazz groove. The website also includes jazz lesson plans for K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 grade teachers.
The Red Hot Jazz Archive: http://www.redhotjazz.com/

Do you know who is considered the first real jazz musician? Find out at this website and then learn about jazz before the 1930s. Explore bands, other musicians, and essays about early jazz.
NPR: Jazz: http://www.nprjazz.org/

National Public Radio highlights legendary and contemporary jazz greats, their music, and their passion. The website includes links to Internet jazz radio stations, and more.
Dick Hyman's Century of Jazz Piano: http://www.jssmusic.com/

"Dick Hyman recreates the styles of 63 pianists and 103 tunes across the entire exciting history of jazz - over five hours of music. Includes 21 rare historical videos, over 100 historical photographs, more than 500 pages of documentation by Joel Simpson, Dick Hyman, and others, including biographies, stylistic analyses, discographies, and a complete bibliography."
Explore Jazz History: http://www.harlem.org/

Find out more about jazz musicians, musical instruments and the styles and history of jazz music at this site.
All About Jazz: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/

This online Jazz magazine website from biographies, interviews, festivals, jazz styles, and more.
Jazz at Lincoln Center: http://www.jazzatlincolncenter.org/

This website educates people about jazz by letting one listen and learn online. Listen to visiting jazz muscians that were invited to play at Lincoln Center or find a jazz station to listen to online.

Lyrics & Songbooks

Judy and David's Online Songbook: http://judyanddavid.com/Songbook/Songbookcover.html

A song index to many popular and favorite children's songs.

Music theory

Aural Comprehension Guide: http://www.wmich.edu/mus-theo/etg/et_guide.html

Developed by a professor at Western Michigan University for his students. Extensive guide to the why and how of ear training and other musical theory concepts.
Big Ears: http://www.ossmann.com/bigears/

BigEars is a Java-based ear training program. The program plays two notes and you guess what the interval is between them.
Ear Training: http://www.good-ear.com/servlet/EarTrainer

Intervals, scales, chords, advanced, and final sections help you to perfect your musical skills.
Energy in the Air: Sounds from the Orchestra: http://tqjunior.thinkquest.org/5116/

"On our website you will find lots of information about how sound is made and what it looks like when it is recorded. There's also a lot of information on the instruments that play in the orchestra and sound clips of the orchestra playing music. We have an activities section where you can see how to make some instruments."
Garden State Pops Youth Orchestra: http://www.gspyo.com/

Learn to read music and listen to different musical instruments online.
Music Education: http://datadragon.com/education/

Learn about (and listen to) different musical instruments, learn to read music, find out about musical genres, or discover what happened on this day in music history.
Music Notes: An Interactive Musical Experience: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=15060&url=15060

"Theory, history, styles, professions, and instruments are explained fully. Learn about note reading and chords, and explore historical information spanning from Medieval times to the present. The section on music styles is very in-depth and gives the definition and background on all types of music ranging from Caribbean to rock."
The Rhythm Book: http://daniellaberge.com/rhythm/rhythm1.html

Learn how to read and write rhythm.

Orchestra / Opera

Orchestra
Opera

Orchestra

playmusic.org: http://www.playmusic.org/stage.html

This interactive website allows you to explore and learn about the different orchestral sections, including brass, strings, percussian, and woodwind. Each page explains that section's instruments, how to play, and then has a related game to play, like Name that Woodwind and more. Required java and sound card.
The New York Philharmonic Kidszone: http://www.nyphilkids.org/main.phtml?

This famous group introduces the workings of orchestra through detailed audio and visual information about instruments and classical musical eras. Visit the composer's gallery for short biographies of composers you want to learn about and then hear a sample of their music. Don't miss the instrument lab where you can learn to make your very own instrument out of household items.
The Symphony: An Interactive Guide: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=22673&url=22673/

Learn about symphonies by reading biographies of composers, listening to audio clips, and taking fun quizzes.

Rap / Hip-Hop

Rap / Hip-Hop megasites
Rap
Hip-Hop

Rap / Hip-Hop megasites

turntables: Scratch Simulator: http://www.turntables.de/start.htm

This interactive website lets you practice scratching using preselected music samples and beats. Graphic intensive website uses Flash plug-in.

Rap

The Rap Realm: http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/listenandwrite/raprealm/index.htm

This website from BBC Online for younger youth explains what rap is and how it is written. It even has a spot where you can write and submit a rap to the site!
The Rap Dictionary: http://www.rapdict.org/

Learn about about rap lingo at this site.
History of Rap Vol. 1: The Genesis: http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72851lin.lasso

The first of three liner notes to the three-volume music compilation set from Rhino records.
History of Rap Vol. 2: The Early to Mid-'70s: http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72851lin2.lasso

The second of three liner notes to the three-volume music compilation set from Rhino records.
History of Rap Vol. 2: The Golden Age: http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72853lin.lasso

The third of three liner notes to the three-volume music compilation set from Rhino records.

Hip-Hop

History of Hip-Hop: http://headbob.com/hiphop/hiphophistory.shtml

Check out the history of hip-hop here.
Sohh: http://www.sohh.com/

This website brings the latest hip-hop news to you
B-Boys: http://www.b-boys.com/

This online magazine features hip-hop and its culture.

Rock Music

Rock Revolution: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=18249&url=18249/resources/

"Read about the history of rock, the different genres, artists, and great moments that have been defined by this music. Check out essays and interviews. Don't miss virtual jamming. An interactive forum allows you to talk with others and vote for the song you feel has been the most influential on society. "
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Timeline: http://www.rockhall.com/timeline/

This website presents the history of rock through an interactive timeline.

World Music

The Silk Road Project: http://www.silkroadproject.org/

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma founded this project that focuses on the musical history and traditions of those along the ancient silk road trading route.

Types of instruments

Energy in the Air: Sounds from the Orchestra: http://www.thinkquest.org/library/lib/site_sum_outside.html?tname=22673&url=22673/

"On our website you will find lots of information about how sound is made and what it looks like when it is recorded. There's also a lot of information on the instruments that play in the orchestra and sound clips of the orchestra playing music. We have an activities section where you can see how to make some instruments."
Garden State Pops Youth Orchestra: http://www.gspyo.com/

Learn to read music and listen to different musical instruments online.
The Instrument Encyclopedia: http://www.si.umich.edu/chico/instrument/

What is a daraboukkeh? Or a balalaika? Find out at this site, which features musical instruments from around the world.
Playmusic.org: http://www.playmusic.org/

This site, created by the American Symphony Orchestra League, lets you learn more about the different parts of an orchestra (and listen to each instrument) or meet the members of an orchestra. You can even send in a question.
The Woodshed at Rhythm Web: http://www.rhythmweb.com/shed/

Learn rhythm from the clave and drums. Sound files.

Music lessons

Drum Lesson Menu: http://catalog.com/drummers/bphome01.html

Learn the basics then go on to learn about different drum beats for all types of music.
Music Magic: A Piano Exploration: http://library.thinkquest.org/15060/

"Your piano teacher has arrived! No, your mentor is not a little old lady, but a website that provides online piano lessons by employing a Java keyboard. You can play with the click of a mouse. Endless interactive features allow you to step into the virtual concert hall, organize your practice sessions, or play a variety of musical games."
Piano on the Net: http://www.pianonanny.com/

A complete set of piano lessons on the web.