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At the end of African American History Month, I always find myself thinking about how to make the study of African American history a year-long effort rather than a token month of celebration. PBS Kids offers an attractive jazz website for kids that could be used to integrate African American history into a writing, art, or music unit any time of the year. The site complements the terrific selection of beautiful and rhythmic children’s books about jazz greats that are already out there and creates an opportunity to talk about race in the context of musical history.

The PBS Kids Jazz website introduces the basic concepts of jazz. Video clips allow kids to hear working musicians discuss their craft and to listen to variety of jazz styles — bebop, cool jazz, and swing — so kids can observe the differences in rhythm and pacing. Finally, students can try their own hand through Band Leader, an interactive program that allows kids to put different combinations of instruments together to play a jazzy version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Warning: a few poor instrument choices and the clip sounds AWFUL, but kids will love it anyway.

In terms of the history of race, the website allows children to explore the chronology and geography of jazz through interactive time lines. They can also read biographies of seven jazz greats and their roles within the jazz movement and the history of race in America. Throughout the site, women are quite under-represented. You might make up for this shortcoming by pulling from the more robust selection of biographies, as well as audio clips, on the linked companion PBS website for Ken Burns’ Jazz.

Finally, do not miss the lesson plans page, which provides five impressive K-8 plans. It’s exciting and not so common to find high-quality lesson plans that aggressively hit national standards, but also allow kids to engage their creativity and self-expression to learn about music and African American history. Just because February is over, the study of African American history doesn’t have to be. -ABBY MARTIN

PBS Kids Jazz

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At Instructify, we’re bombarded with requests for songs explaining scientific concepts. And by “bombarded,” I mean, “it’s never actually happened.” Which is a shame, because you can find several such songs out there. Much like how The Element Song covers the periodic table, The Biochemists’ Songbook tackles several scientific ideas like respiration, protein biosynthesis and photosynthesis, setting them to well-known tunes that will make them easier for your students to remember.

The songs were originally penned by Dr. Harold Baum, a professor at Chelsea College of the University of London, who created them as a gag for his department’s annual Christmas party. The songs were eventually recorded and released on tape in the 1980s, but have since gone out-of-print. Fortunately, some bored kind soul created .mp3s of the songs, and even got Dr. Baum’s permission to distribute them online (the book of lyrics is still in copyright, however, so you’ll either have to buy it or Google the lyrics yourself).

Yes, these tunes are a little on the cheesy side, but it’s amazing what sort of knowledge can get stuck in students’ heads if they’re set to music. You’ll never hear “Auld Lang Syne” again without thinking of photosynthesis. -BILL FERRIS

The Biochemists’ Songbook

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Karaoke to learn English? I thought it was Japanese?

Seriously! Karaoke is good for more than just drunken businessmen (and others) letting off steam. It can be a great way for language learners to practice and improve English language skills. The lyrics rhyme and are repeated, it comes with a written prompt, and the music helps to bring it all together. As Larry Ferlazzo says, singing is a lot less threatening to language learners than having a conversation (since it’s acceptable to hum through the parts you forget or don’t get).

So where to go? My two favorite sites are Sims on Stage. Both are easy to use and have a minimal registration process. You will need a microphone if you are recording your or your students’ singing, but you can just practice. You can find easy classics under the Kids category. My school does a monthly “sing-a-long” assembly. I had the kids practice singing “Jingle Bells” for this month’s show. -ALICE MERCER

All of these ideas are stolen come from Larry Ferlazzo and his great blog

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Photo credit: tomasu.co.uk on Flickr

For a long time, there were really only three ways to become a capable musician: be born with natural talent, practice hours upon hours, or just simply sell your soul.  I trust you’re familiar with the following joke:

Person A: How do you get to Carnegie Hall?
Person B: Practice, practice, practice.
Person A: Very funny. No, I’m genuinely asking. See, I sold my soul for brilliant musical talent and now I have to perform at the most important show of my life. If I miss this gig the devil wins my soul and this turns into one of those lame “careful what you wish for” stories.
Person B: That’s what she said?

Now, however, we live in a brilliant age when all computers are connected at all times, ever-seething and growing self-aware. TrainEar.com opens up a new option for improving musical knowledge, allowing us to use the web to learn to play any simple melody by ear. The Free Online Ear Training program available here uses examples from familiar songs to help teach musical intervals, regardless of your prior music experience. The program looks intimidating, and you’ll definitely be lost if don’t watch the tutorial video first. But once you figure out how to use it and start practicing things really start falling into place.

Funding for many school music programs is on the chopping block—if it hasn’t already been chopped. And you only have your students for a set amount of time each day, let alone time for one-on-one interaction. Online Ear Training from TrainEar is a great tool to bypass these roadblocks. Plus, you know your students use the internet webs 23 hours a day anyway. -NICK YINGLING

TrainEar.com

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This Will Knock You B Flat

The Library of Congress is an impressively gigantic organization. It occupies three large buildings on Capitol Hill. It contains more than 138 million items in its collection. It holds materials in 470 languages. And the Librarian of Congress has the very librarian-ish name James H. Billington. Impressive!

Given these facts, is it any surprise that the Library of Congress’ website is also impressively gigantic? It’s easy to be overwhelmed just by looking at their home page, which seems heavy with the knowledge accumulated over this nation’s 232-year history.

But wait! Don’t close your browser. The website is a treasure trove of valuable teaching resources for those willing to find them. The navigation bar includes a link to resources for teachers, including lesson plans and activities; an encyclopedia of sheet music, film, and audio; and a collection of American song and poetry, presented in primary source documents and recordings.

Resources for teachers also include the Library’s American Memory collection , which contains over 13 million historical images, audio recordings, letters, maps, and more – all digitized with students and teachers in mind. This collection in itself can be fairly daunting, so check out LEARN NC’s educator’s guide to the collection.

Take some time to explore the collections – you won’t regret it. And tell the good Mr. Billington we sent you. -EMILY JACK

Library of Congress

American Memory

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15 Awesome Tutorial Websites You Probably Don’t Know About
A couple weeks ago I decided to take up juggling. Right away I was amazed at the high quality tutorials I found online. If you have a random hobby you’d like to try, or you’re looking for a project during these summer months, check out this list of sites.

100 Unbelievably Useful Reference Sites You’ve Never Heard Of
Here’s a great big list of sites you can use to find everything from literature to library references to health care. You can also find fun stuff like the Dialectizer, which can translate your text to sound like Elmer Fudd. Who doesn’t need that?

10 Brain Training Tips To Teach and Learn
Keep your brain fit for optimum learning potential. The folks at SharpBrains have these ten tips to turn you and your students into efficient thinking and learning machines.

Video Toolbox: 150+ Online Video Tools and Resources
Need to edit a class video project? Want some advice on how to create a video podcast? Or do you need to convert video to a different file format? Mashable has all that and more in this great post. -BILL FERRIS

Photo credit:  zen on flickr

Whether you’re creating a podcast or adding a voice over for a slide show, the list of free audio recorders begins and ends with Audacity. Audacity is an open source program that lets you record and edit audio quickly and easily. Just hook up a microphone to your computer, hit the record button, and start talking. When you’re done, you can edit out all the “uhs,” long pauses and bad jokes. Audacity displays a visual of the sound waves themselves, enabling you to make edits so precise you can shave the letter off a word. Save as a .WAV or .MP3 file and send your message to the masses (or, at least, your students).

In addition to podcasting, you could record classroom lectures for sick students. Your class might write and record a radio drama. The dance team could edit together a mix of songs for their next performance. If you teach an online class, your students might appreciate hearing their instructor’s voice in a setting that’s not a parent-teacher conference. The possible uses are endless, and like any good gadget, Audacity is fun enough that you’ll probably try to think of some.

We review a lot of software on Instructify, so believe me when I say you’ll have a hard time finding a free program as useful, versatile, and simple as Audacity. It’s been around forever, yet we haven’t officially reviewed it until now – I guess we must’ve taken it for granted. If your only exposure to audio recording and editing is Windows Sound Recorder, give Audacity a try. The upgrade might inspire you to start a podcast of your own. -BILL FERRIS

Audacity

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I took three years of Spanish in high school plus two semesters in college, and I don’t remember much more than “jugar boliche.” But having a small vocabulary doesn’t mean you can’t communicate big ideas. Some guy named Mike from Runawaybox.com expresses his feelings for his sexy señorita with nothing but a guitar and rudimentary verb conjugations in his hit song, One Semester of Spanish Love Song. (Tip: if your school blocks YouTube, you can still watch the video with KeepVid.)

This song illustrates both the difficulties inherent in learning a new language, as well as what you can accomplish with a little creativity. If you teach an intro foreign language course, let your students watch this to get their minds working for the next time they have to do a skit or class presentation. Maybe it’ll inspire them to retain more than how to say “bowling” in español. -BILL FERRIS

One Semester of Spanish Love Song via Education Week

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Welcome to your romantic and eerily educentric Valentine’s Day date. But will it end in love, tears, or possibly food poisoning from an undercooked Valentine’s dinner? These kind educators were gracious enough to share their Valentine’s Day experiences:

Dinner and a Movie: Benjamin Baxter at On the Tenure Track invites you to a live recreation of Saving Private Ryan in his own classroom.

Dining by Candlelight: Larry Ferlazzo at In Practice and Eric at Teachers Call say teachers should include more modern means of illuminating young minds.

Set the Mood with Music: Alvaro at SharpBrains says musical training stimulates the brain. Meanwhile, Creating Lifelong Learners tells you how to make the most of your iPod in class.

Send a Valentine’s Card: Ms. Cornelius says principals who care, trust and lead by example are sooo her type.

Like Romeo and Juliet, Minus the Suicide: The Bard Blog knows there’s no better way to woo someone than with poetry. Learn how to read Shakespearean verse like a true Romeo.

Even More Poetry: Eduwonkette has the same idea. Send your Valentine a funny poem.

On a Budget: American Consumer News has tips on how to get great books for cheap. Speaking of books, Money Blue Book talks about a few things you didn’t know your library could do.

On a Budget, Part II: Uncle Joe’s Leadership Blog tells parents and students how to get a free college education. And Thursday Bram at Wise Bread tells students where to shop when they have to start buying their own textbooks.

Propagating the Species: GrrlScientist at Living the Scientific Life has the skinny on a guide to teaching evolutionary theory.

Lovers’ Quarrel: Mr. Walker, The English Teacher, prompts a heated discussion on tracking.

Kiss and Make Up: Resolve conflicts with colleagues by employing these strategies, courtesy of Pat at Successful Teaching.

Share a Few Laughs: Scenes from The Battleground pokes fun at the idea of blaming the victim in education.

Spend Some Time with Your Kids: TutorFi‘s Colleen Palat asks, “Does My Child Need a Tutor?“If so, not to worry. The kid can still excel in school.

Find a Special Someone where you Least Expect It: Joanne Jacobs dishes on Principal Shimon Waronker, a Hasidic Jew, ignoring potential culture shock to turn around a prominently black and Hispanic school.

Watch the Sunrise: Circle Time “Lead From The Start” discusses teaching with both sides of the brain to usher in a new tomorrow in student learning.

Remembering the Way We Were: The Tempered Radical’s Bill Ferriter asked beginning teachers to remind older colleagues they’re still learning how to do this job.

Stand by Your Man (or Woman): Nancy Flanagan, a Teacher in a Strange Land, sticks up for teachers in the face of claims that the professions isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Get Some Alone Time: Dana at Principled Discovery doesn’t like the idea of the federal government butting in and bossing around local schools.

Remembering it’s the Thought that Counts: Like many parents reared on New Math, NYC Educator struggles to help his daughter at math. But he’s a dear for trying.

Fending off Suitors: Ms_Teacher isn’t interested in ETS’ insultingly low wages.

Dumped: To MasterPapers.com and CustomEssays.co.uk – We both knew this was coming. Selling essays to students is just wrong, wrong, wrong. And your advice on essay writing is pure fluff. I don’t think we should see each other anymore.

Photo Credit: Candy hearts at cryptogram.com.

Sorry to not have your precious MBTN done yesterday, voracious reader. Here it is today to make up for it. (February is a beast!)

10 Tips to Retain More of What You Read Online – You took the time to click on it, so you might as well actually digest what you’ve just read. Vandelay Website Design presents 10 ways to help, including these: Read at times you can focus, trim the fat, be aware of visual cues.

10 Books for Inquiring Minds – I’m sure that ALL books slake some sort of inquiry, but these books are for those of us who really want to delve. I am most interested in Seven Deadly Colours – about how nature creates color and how we perceive it. Neat.

Dale Carnegie’s Top 10 Tips for Improving Your Social Life – I don’t know who Dale Carnegie is, but if I had a social life, maybe my friends could tell me. Seriously, though, what is everyone doing tonight? Wanna hang out?

10 Simple Ways to Do Only Three Things Today- I don’t know if these tips are as beneficial as some of these others, but hey, we all can use some time to just be lazy, right? Even still, if you only do 3 things today, make them count.

40 Inspirational & Motivational Songs That’ll Keep You Refreshed! – Please note, these songs also happen to all be terrible, in my opinion – but I hope they help you stay motivated and inspired. Des’Ree, I hope you are happy with yourself. – JEREMY S. GRIFFIN

(photo credit: Eddie~S)

While trying to score for “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” as a duet for flutophone and ocarina I found an open source application called LilyPond that handles the messy job of transcribing music notation. Lilypond handles anything from a simple one-line melody to a symphony or oratorio. That includes not only basic things like lyrics, accidentals, and multiple staves, but polyphony, divisi lyrics, expressive marks, grace notes, instrument-specific notation, scoring for bagpipe, and ancient notation. (If you’ve always wanted to arrange Gregorian chants for bagpipe, this baby’s for you!)

To use LilyPond, you type special notation into a simple text editor, then save and compile the file. LilyPond then outputs beautifully scored, professional-looking sheet music in PDF format. You have to code the music as if you were a programmer, though, using special notation. That can be daunting at first, but the manual is clearly written and thorough (a surprise for open-source software) and the system is fairly easy to pick up. “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” would look something like this:

\relative {
\time 4/4
c4 c4 c8. d16 e4
e8. d16 e8. f16 g2
\times 2/3 { c8 c c } \times 2/3 { g8 g g }
\times 2/3 { e8 e e } \times 2/3 { c8 c c }
g’8. f16 e8. d16 c2
}

If you read music, you can probably read this notation without too much trouble. You can see the output file here.

Unlike some very expensive applications on the market, LilyPond doesn’t let you play in your music on a keyboard, and you can’t play it back to hear how it sounds – all LilyPond does is write it down for you. But it can handle anything an amateur musician or composer would reasonably need, and the price is certainly right for a teacher’s budget. -DAVID WALBERT

LilyPond

Photo credit: selva on flickr.com

It’ll be a while before your school’s marching band takes the field again. And you’ll need every second if you want to design a show that can top this one: this past season, the University of California Marching Band staged a video game-themed extravaganza. I don’t want to sound like a geek or anything, but it’s the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

Relive those hours spent saving princesses and amassing points as you thrill to the sounds of classic video games. See if you can recognize all of them (and if you’re a nerd like me, you probably can).

It’s funny – the reason I joined my high school band in the first place was because my parents wanted me to stop playing so many video games. Seeing Cal’s video game show brings musicianship eerily full-circle. -BILL FERRIS

University of California Marching Band Video Game Show via YouTube

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Here’s a novel idea: teach kids about music they like to listen to.

In an age when music and art programs are being slashed from school budgets, music producer Quncy Jones and Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band are leading the charge to revitalize school music programs with rock-and-roll.

Van Zandt is starting Little Steven’s Rock-and-Roll High School (editor’s note: that’s a very un-rock-and-roll name), a curriculum where students will learn about rock’s history and cultural impact.

“Rock-and-roll is a uniquely American art form,” Van Zandt told The Washington Post. “We receive emotional information as well as intellectual information from it.” The Post quotes Quincy Jones as saying, “Our schools have an obligation. The culture is the soul of a country, and they aren’t teaching the music which has helped mold the culture.”

Of course, this could all be a sinister plan from parents to get kids to stop listening to that infernal racket. If rebellious music like rock and hip-hop is taught in school, maybe it’ll lose it’s appeal. Personally, I think giving students more options than just band and choir would be a great way to increase kids’ appreciation for music. And that’s coming from a career trombonist in my high school band. -BILL FERRIS

Top Musicians Are Composing Own Curricula via The Washington Post

Every science teacher’s favorite musical jaunt through the periodic table, Tom Lehrer’s “The Elements,” now has an animated video. This fun flash animation gives students a fighting chance at singing along by displaying each element as it’s sung.

At the risk of giving away the ending, animator Mike Stanfill kindly fills in the elements that have been discovered since the song was recorded in 1955, so it covers the complete list of elements. And far be it from us to tell you how to do your job, but any student who can sing this whole song from memory deserves some serious extra credit.

“The Elements” is an oldie but goodie that just got a little goodie-r. These kids nowadays with their rock and roll music could do with a song stuck in their heads that actually teaches them something. –BILL FERRIS

The Element Song

MusicTheory.net teaches students how music works. They can do drills on notes on the musical staff, the piano keyboard, the guitar fret board, or valves for brass instruments. If a kid won’t shut up about having perfect pitch, set him to work on the ear training for scales, chords and intervals. The site will also generate blank sheet music for any aspiring composers or arrangers out there. If you want, you can grab a downloadable version of the site for offline learning, or if you want to load it onto several classroom computers without Web access.

As a self-admitted guitar hack, I only know about half of what those words mean. Though if I’m inclined to learn, MusicTheory.net seems like the place to do it, rather than shell out money for lessons. –BILL FERRIS

MusicTheory.net

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