Free Music Curriculum
Music Workshop’s free music curriculum is available to all teachers via our online portal. Create an account, choose a course, and you’re ready to start teaching. The hardest part is choosing which topic to teach first!
Music Workshop’s free music curriculum is available to all teachers via our online portal. Create an account, choose a course, and you’re ready to start teaching. The hardest part is choosing which topic to teach first!
Take your students on a journey through sound with Music Workshop’s Musical Genre Series! From the elegance of classical to the energy of rock, the soul of blues, the creativity of jazz, and the vibrancy of world music, this series opens the door to cultures and stories told through music. Students won’t just learn about genres—they’ll discover how music connects people, shapes history, and inspires creativity.
With ready-to-use, engaging lesson plans, you’ll have everything you need to spark curiosity and bring music history to life in your classroom.
From the resonance of strings to the heartbeat of percussion, Music Workshop’s Instrument Series brings the world of instruments to life in your classroom! Students will explore the sounds, history, and mechanics of instruments from every corner of the globe, uncovering how they shape music and connect cultures.
Through interactive, engaging lessons, your students won’t just learn what instruments are—they’ll discover why they matter, how they tell stories, and the roles they play in musical traditions worldwide.
Music is a universal language that reflects the heart of cultures across the globe, and Music Workshop’s Culture Series brings that truth to life in the classroom. These groundbreaking lessons explore the musical traditions, rhythms, and instruments of diverse cultures, helping students develop a broader appreciation for global music. What makes the series unique is its balance of cultural authenticity and classroom readiness—every lesson is expert-vetted by culture bearers, musicologists, and educators to ensure accuracy and respect. An essential part of a well-rounded education, the Culture Series highlights how music connects people, tells stories, and preserves history while empowering teachers to inspire with confidence.
From performers and composers to sound engineers and lighting designers, Music Workshop’s Careers in Music Series inspires students by showcasing the many exciting possibilities a future in music can hold. Through stories, examples, and real-world insights, students are introduced to the wide range of paths where creativity, passion, and music intersect.
This series is designed to spark curiosity and open eyes to opportunities students may have never imagined – showing them that a love for music can lead to an inspiring and fulfilling career.
Bring the thrill of live music straight into your classroom with Soundwaves Concerts! Students get a front-row seat to recorded performances by professional musicians, experiencing the energy, creativity, and passion that drive the art of music. Each concert goes beyond the performance, offering an inside look at musical styles, techniques, and the artistry that makes music come alive.
Through engaging Q&A sessions, students also discover the powerful ways music connects to life, culture, and personal expression – sparking both inspiration and imagination.
Music Workshop and All Classical Radio’s International Children’s Art Network present: ICAN Listen, a radio show where young people explore music and how it can make a positive impact in their lives through active listening and thoughtful discussion. Four rotating student hosts bring fresh perspectives and real-time reactions to songs featured in Music Workshop courses, encouraging personal connections with music and immersing listeners in dynamic, peer-led exploration that invites students to engage, reflect, and discover how music can connect and inspire.
Hosted by 10-year-old Ida Artis, a talented musician, daughter of renowned artist Ron Artis II, and seasoned world traveler who has visited 17 countries, Ida’s Adventures is a video series that explores global cultures through music, storytelling, and peer-led discovery. Ida showcases musical traditions and interviews local musicians along the way. With access through Music Workshop’s educator portal, the series will reach millions of students worldwide, offering educators powerful, engaging peer-learning programming to make global music education personal, inspirational, and impactful. (Coming Fall 2025)
Each standards-based Music Workshop course features a roughly 25-minute video and, with the added teacher-led components, can be expanded into a full 50-minute lesson plan. These components include Q&A discussions, an active listening exercise, and a movement activity. By integrating music learning with reading, physical activity, active listening, and critical thinking, we not only engage and connect students but also show them how music can play a significant role in their everyday lives.
Here’s a peek at how teaching our music curriculum looks in a grade 3-5 classroom.
Our cultural program advisors are at the heart of Music Workshop’s mission to create meaningful, authentic learning experiences for students. These remarkable individuals bring not only their deep expertise, but also their lived experiences and personal connections to the cultures and musical traditions featured in our courses. Their guidance ensures that every lesson reflects the richness, accuracy, and respect that these traditions deserve—bridging the gap between the classroom and the real-world communities from which this music comes. We are honored to collaborate with such highly credentialed musicians, educators, and performers, whose passion and insight help us inspire curiosity, empathy, and a global perspective in students everywhere.
Let’s work together to make music-empowered education relevant and accessible for all.