Class Notes supports teachers through free music education resources. Discover new ways to bring the joy of music to your students. This collection includes Music & Mindfulness, Meet the Composer, Instrument Exploration, Music Fundamentals, Cross-Curricular Connections, Listening Lessons, Themed Lessons, Lecciones en español, Hands-on Activities, and Virtual Concerts.
Many composers have used music to sound like animals or to conjure up the image of an animal. Use your imagination to consider what a lion, tiger, or bear sound like!
Use music to think about how to remember those who have served their country and those who are no longer with us. For all ages.
Nature makes its own music. Listen to sounds in nature and to pieces of music inspired by nature.
Students will think about why people protest and how they use music when protesting.
Many composers have captured the sound and feeling of rain in music. In this lesson, explore four different pieces about rain.
Composers have tried to capture the sound of snow in their music. Listen, respond, and move to four pieces of music about snow.
Have you ever gone outside to look at the stars at night? Stargazing has inspired poets, musicians, and artists. Listen to and reflect upon music inspired by stargazing. For all ages.
Whether it’s the middle of winter and you’re looking for a taste of summer or it’s the end of June and students are itching for freedom, our curated summer playlist allows students to pretend to go on a picnic, hike, or gaze at the stars.
Follow the sun from sunrise to sunset in this listening lesson. Students will compare and contrast four pieces inspired by the sun. Great for all ages.
Great for Independence Day or Memorial Day. Listen to four pieces written by composers from the United States.
Literature and music are full of memorable villains! Listen to music inspired by villains and make up your own villain character. For Grades 2-5.
Meet Djenane Saint Juste and other vibrant musicians of Afoutayi Dance, Music, and Arts Company as they introduce students to music and dance from the country of Haiti. Enjoy this interactive virtual concert perfect for elementary and middle school.
Border CrosSing is a Twin Cities-based chorale ensemble which makes music that welcomes everyone. Meet Ahmed Anzaldúa, Artistic Director and listen to this wonderful ensemble sing!
Cada año, Classical MPR alcanza a miles de estudiantes alrededor de Minnesota a través del programa Class Notes Concerts. Diseñados para captar la atención e inspirar a estudiantes de educación primaria a través de presentaciones musicales en vivo, estos conciertos ayudan a cultivar habilidades auditivas y permiten que los estudiantes disfruten de la música clásica.
Black musicians have shaped and defined every aspect of American music. This virtual concert offers a small starting place to start investigating some notable Black performers and composers.
Meet some notable women composers who have contributed to classical music over the past 100+ years.
Gaelynn Lea is a violinist and songwriter from Duluth, MN. Meet Gaelynn and learn a little about her disability and how she adjusts to play the violin!
Heliopsis is a musical duo featuring Mikey and Nyttu. Learn about the cello and some percussion instruments in this Class Notes Virtual Concert.
Percussion, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass! These are the four families of instruments. Learn to identify which instrument belongs where in this Virtual Concert featuring a wide variety of Class Notes artists.
Kroehm Duo is a duo, which means two players. “Kroehm” is a mash-up of the players’ last names – Jenny Klukken and Steve Roehm. Learn about mallet instruments and listen to original music by this Class Notes group!