World Language & Culture
Featured Lesson: World Language, Learn a New Language by Creating a Podcast
"Students will create their own world language podcasts to reinforce current learning. Have your students, individually or in groups, create podcasts teaching basic Spanish, French, etc. Appropriate topics include nouns or verbs centered on a specific topic and how to conjugate specific verb endings. Then put those podcasts to use teaching your beginning students. Assign a lesson topic you've already covered---the subjunctive mood or conditional mood, for example---to each student or group of students. Have them prepare their own review of this lesson in podcast form and then share it with the rest of the class."
Music as a Language
"Music is a powerful communication tool--it causes us to laugh, cry, think and question. Bassist and five-time Grammy winner, Victor Wooten, asks us to approach music the same way we learn verbal language--by embracing mistakes and playing as often as possible."
A Different Way To Visualize Rhythm
"In standard notation, rhythm is indicated on a musical bar line. But there are other ways to visualize rhythm that can be more intuitive. John Varney describes the ‘wheel method’ of tracing rhythm and uses it to take us on a musical journey around the world."
Barnstable's "Locura de música"
Barnstable Spanish teachers are having their classes participate in "Locura de música" or Music Madness for March Madness! Click the link below to check out the results or participate! Thanks, Ms. Nelson!
Sean Paul Breaks Down His Top Dancehall Songs
"Dancehall is a Jamaican genre of music with deep roots in reggae. Sean Paul, one of the world's most popular dancehall and reggae artists, breaks down some of his favorite tracks to ever come out of the genre. Artists like Sister Nancy, Super Cat, Dawn Penn and Koffee top Sean's list, along with a slew of other influential musicians."
Why Shakira Loves This African Beat
"Cumbia is a growing staple of Latin American music. Its driving beat can be heard all over the continent, from Argentina to Mexico to the US. Cumbia’s catchy rhythms can be traced back to the villages along the river banks of Colombia’s Rio Magdalena where mostly African and American indigenous musical elements fused together to create a whole new style of music. And cumbia keeps evolving. Today DJs and pop stars are bringing cumbia into the electronic realm. But no matter how much it evolves, it always comes back to Colombia."
How to Create a Reggaetón Track with Producer Tainy
"Tainy, a music producer best known for working with artists like J Balvin, Bad Bunny, Anuel AA and Ozuna, walks us through how he produces a reggaetón song. Tainy deep dives into the track that would eventually become 'FALTA,' and explains what techniques and plug-ins he uses to achieve the classic 'reggaetón' sound."
Asian Pop Compilation 2020
Watch the video above to check out various stylistic and musical differences in Asain Pop music (C-Pop, K-Pop, J-Pop, V-Pop, P-Pop, T-Pop).
"Throughout the long history of China, the Chinese people have been creating music that is attuned to their complex cultural needs. In the developmental process, Chinese music has profoundly influenced adjoining regions, while in turn absorbing musical elements from neighbors. We will explore this musical history and development, instruments and genres, regional variations, and contemporary Chinese music."
Get to Know These 7 Traditional Chinese Instruments
"What better way to commemorate the Lunar New Year than by learning about Chinese musical culture? In her 2017 series 'Passage to the Middle Kingdom,' producer Noel Morris speaks with several accomplished musicians of traditional Chinese music about their instruments and their craft."
MC Solaar & French Rap
"One of the most famous French rappers, MC Solaar, explains that the power and influence of Hip-Hop comes from the message and philosophy it prescribes to. It is a message of creation instead of destruction, art instead of violence. MC Solaar, who was France’s first hip hop star, describes hip hop music as a chance to lash out from underneath France’s historical oppression in a creative and meaningful way. I have attached his original recording here."
"O Fortuna" with Lyrics
"The powerful opening piece 'O Fortuna' from the cantata Carmina Burana, composed by the German composer Carl Orff in 1936. This version is performed by James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, released on Deutsche Grammophon Records." Lyrics in Latin with English translation!
Rosalía Says Flamenco Connects Her to Latin Culture
"Singer Rosalía discusses her experience of growing up Latino, as she reveals her favorite dance move, the best Spanish street foods, and much more."