Native American Music Resources

Introduce your students to the music of another culture through lessons, activities, and references about Native American instruments, songs, and musical performance. Use these resources to explore the regional and intertribal styles of Native American music, from the past to the present. Children will enjoy learning about music through hands-on activities, such as making their own drums and maracas. The materials below support several of the National Standards for Music Education.

Music Styles Contemporary Native American Music Find out some of the many ways in which Native American influence is heard in popular genres of modern music. Intertribal Style of Native American Music Reference the history and present details of Native American music developed among many tribes. Regional Music Styles of Native American Tribes Reference this chart of the regional music styles of Native American tribes. Instrument Activities Native American Musical Instruments In this music activity, students learn about Native American culture and make their own drums. Make a Tunable Drum Learn to construct a tunable drum from a plastic soda bottle. Making a Maraca Make a maraca from beans and a juice can. Music Lesson Plans Native American Music: Call-and-Response Introduce students to a call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. Describing Drum Beats in Native American Music Work with students to perform a Native American song and dance, Owl Dance. Allow them to describe and analyze the drum patterns and changing styles of the music and dance. Percussion Performance and Culture Students in grades 5-8 study African and Native American percussion, consider music's cultural relevance, and perform in the style of the genre. Native American Music and the Flute Students in grades 9-12 evaluate a performance, composition, arrangement, or improvisation by comparing it to similar or exemplary models.

References & Printables Native American Pronunciation Guide Distribute a guide that is helpful with the transcriptions of Native American lyrics and vocables. Native American Song: 0 Hal'Lwe Words and rhythm notation for a Nanticoke women's dance, in Native American call-and-response form. Teaching Native American Music Use this guide to help you address the issues involved when introducing Native American music and culture to your class. Native American Instruments Learn what materials were traditionally used to make Native American instruments, and the role these instruments played in ceremonies. Related Music Resources Native Americans - Teacher Resources Our lessons & printables on Native American life & culture are great resources for Thanksgiving & American Indian Heritage Month (Nov.). Teach students about colonization from a different perspective. Music Resources for Teachers Bring some music into your classroom with lessons and printables! Celebrate Music in Our Schools Month in March, or enjoy music on a regular basis with your students. Multicultural Music Resources Introduce your students to music from around the world with these multicultural lessons and printables. Use these resources to explore musical traditions, make native instruments, and sing folk songs. National Standards for Music Education Incorporate the nine National Standards for Music Education into your curriculum. Use these resources to teach students in grades K-12 about singing, instruments, music composition, and much more!

Provided in partnership with MENC