Carnegie Hall partners with the NYC Department of Education and New York Community Trust to provide engaging music curriculum materials for remote learning.
Responding to the needs of teachers and parents overseeing learning from home during COVID-19, Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute (WMI)-the Hall's music education and social impact arm-has expanded its range of digital music education offerings now available for free to educators around the globe. At a time when many teachers are working in distance-learning settings, Carnegie Hall continues to support its growing national community of educators, dedicated to bringing the best in music to students, through its free educational videos, activities, and professional development tools, all designed to enhance musical learning. These resources-which include instructional videos, interactive activities, and digital curriculums-are available on Carnegie Hall's website for educators, and provide flexibility and adaptability for a variety of learning settings. The Hall also provides networks and opportunities for teacher-to-teacher support, which aid in community building and professional development.
Musical Explorers helps young elementary school students in grades K-2 learn songs from around the world, building a deeper understanding of different cultures while developing basic singing and listening skills. The fully digital program is available for educators free of charge, with a flexible curriculum which allows teachers to choose the programs that best fit their classrooms. The culturally responsive curriculum materials include lesson plans, an interactive Around the World Map, which helps kids see where the music they are studying comes from, artist-led videos, and digital concert experiences filmed live at Carnegie Hall that highlight diverse musical traditions.
Carnegie Hall's Music Educators Workshops bring together teachers who work in schools and communities with K-12 students for community building and professional development. Educators from the workshops have shared great insights in a new "Great Teachers in Action" video series which cover a range of topics including artistry, intention, compassion, expression, and more, that are available for educators to stream on the Hall's website. This series of videos has been designed and framed through the lens of WMI's "Great Music Teaching Framework," which puts forth a series of values for teachers to consider when considering their pedagogical style and curriculum. Music Educators Toolbox is another popular resource for teachers, which features grade-specific music education activities that address the fundamentals of rhythm, meter, singing, form, dynamics, articulation, tempo, pitch, and performing.
Teachers looking for an online community, support system, and space to share best practices are encouraged to join the Hall's Music Educators Facebook group. With more than 2,500 members, the publicly available group is a growing, supportive community of educators across the country who engage in dialogue with the support of WMI resources and programs. "I discovered that page a couple of weeks into the COVID-19 shutdown and it's been a real bright spot for me. It was so traumatic to be ripped from the classroom, but I've gained so much perspective, so many tips and tricks, and had a few smiles all because of that group. I'm not exaggerating it has been a real relief to be part of a community of educators." said Tim, a teacher from Harwich, Massachusetts.WMI's longest-running music education program, Link Up, is used by nearly half a million elementary school students and teachers across the globe. Students in grades 3-5 learn to sing and play an instrument through this highly participatory program. Teachers using Link Up can utilize any of the program materials-including teacher and student resources, interactive sheet music, online lesson plans, downloadable student activity sheets, and robust audio and video content-free of charge to engage students in musical learning and exploration. Explore Link Up's four unique programs: The Orchestra Rocks, The Orchestra Swings, The Orchestra Sings, and The Orchestra Moves.
WMI's extensive catalog of masterclass video content with leading artists including Joyce DiDonato, Jonathan Biss, and members of the Berlin Philharmoniker and the Vienna Philharmonic, is a meaningful tool to inspire students. NYO-U, a free online video series that is written and produced by teenage members and alumni of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America (NYO-USA), NYO2, and NYO Jazz, has been specifically developed to invite other teen musicians to explore a range of topics, including mastering fast passages, conquering stage fright, essential items for your instrument case, and more.
For the full list of WMI educator resources, please visit: carnegiehall.org/Explore/Learn/Music-Educators
Videos