Carnegie Hall

Musical Explorers helps elementary school students learn songs from around the world, building a deeper understanding of different cultures while developing basic singing and listening skills. The program is available for classrooms around the world, with a free fully digital version available for educators.

Grades: K–2
Availability for Educators: NYC, National, International
Season: School Year

The Weill Music Institute’s longest-running music education program, Link Up, gives kids the opportunity to learn to sing and play an instrument with an orchestra in this highly participatory program.

Grades: 3–5
Availability for Educators: NYC, National, International
Season: School Year

Music educators come together to strengthen their skills through community building, professional development, and musical activities. Each summer, educators from across the United States gather for a four-day intensive workshop.

Grades: K–12 Educators
Availability for Educators: NYC, National
Season: School Year, Summer Program

Ensemble Connect, a two-year fellowship program for extraordinary professional classical musicians in the US, partners with public schools throughout New York City. Each fellow is partnered with an instrumental music teacher, bringing mastery of their instrument and a professional performer’s perspective to music classrooms.

Grades: 3–12
Availability for Educators: NYC
Season: School Year

Through grants and professional development, PlayUSA supports community organizations that offer music education programs to K–12 students, including those for whom opportunities to engage in instrumental music instruction are limited by socioeconomic, geographic, or other factors. Organizations can apply annually for funding to bring PlayUSA to their community.

Grades: K–12
Availability for Organizations: NYC, National
Season: School Year

Through six curated programs for grades K–2, artists with personal and cultural connections to the music they teach share rich and diverse songs, dances, traditions, stories, and more.

Topics: Instruments, Composers
Activities: Listening, Watching, Singing, Movement
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades: K–5

Introduce your students to the sounds of the orchestra with this robust collection of lesson plans, student activities, and teaching videos for grades 3–5.

Topics: Orchestra, Instruments, Composers
Activities: Listening, Singing, Movement, Recorder Playing
Time commitment: 45 minutes–2 hours
Grades: K–5

On Carnegie Hall Kids, children learn about music through fun quizzes, robust games, interactive maps, performance videos, and more. Explore a kid-friendly website that ignites imagination, encourages musical curiosity, and develops knowledge of musical concepts.

Ages: 5–12

The Music Educators Toolbox features free online resources for music teachers that include lesson plans and activities, assessments, video examples, and documented best practices.

Grades: K–12

Find inspiration in this framework developed by the Weill Music Institute as a set of guiding principles for music teachers across all settings.

Grades: K–12

In this five-part course, your students can join producer and percussionist Charles Burchell in his digital music studio to play around with tools and learn how to create loops, beats, basslines, melodies, and arrangements.

Topics: Digital Media, Music Production
Activities: Watching, Participatory Course
Time commitment: 30 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

In this five-part course, songwriter and performer Bridget Barkan details how to write a meaningful original song. She shares how to first find inspiration and generate song ideas, then write a chorus, bridge, and verses, before putting the final touches on your composition.

Topics: Voice, Songwriting
Activities: Watching, Participatory Course
Time commitment: 20 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

The Timeline of African American Music is an interactive digital resource that presents the remarkable diversity of African American music, revealing the unique characteristics of each genre and style, from the earliest folk traditions to present-day popular music.

Grades: K–12

Through a series of enlightening conversations with extraordinary educators, this six-part series offers invaluable answers and insights. Learn about the unique approaches and personal histories of masterful music teachers, discover what drives them to teach, and be inspired by stories of their life-changing successes.

Topics: Professional Development

The Perelman American Roots curriculum explores the legacy of African American Spirituals. The program was designed and originally published in conjunction with HONOR! A Celebration of African American Cultural Legacy, a Carnegie Hall festival that took place in March 2009 and curated by the late Jessye Norman.

Grades: 6–8

Learn about Carnegie Hall’s exciting history in this playful animated video filled with music by artists who have graced its stages, from Tchaikovsky to the Beatles and beyond.

Topic: Carnegie Hall
Activity: Watching
Time commitment: 10 minutes
Grades: K–5

This interactive, online game for young learners dives into the components of the orchestra through Britten’s iconic piece, “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.” (This game is currently in open beta testing.)

Topics: Orchestra, Instruments
Activity: Play Time
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades: K–5

Hip-hop artists and educators Chen Lo and Asante Amin—the creative forces behind Soul Science Lab—lead this online course for young thinkers, activists, and musicians. Students create art with a purpose with assignments that inspire a personal vision for the world.

Topics: Songwriting, Composition, Music Production
Activities: Instruction (Participatory Course)
Time commitment: 20 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

In this online course for young musicians, explore the compositional practices of artists Mazz Swift, Clay Ross, and Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Prompt students to refine their creative processes with guided assignments.

Topics: Songwriting, Composition
Focus: Instruction (Participatory Course)
Time commitment: 20 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

Marin Alsop dissects each movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to share her vision for the story of this beloved work.

Topics: Beethoven, Symphonies
Activity: Watching
Time commitment: 5–15 minutes
Grades: 6–12

This conversation guide details the history and legacy of Beethoven’s groundbreaking—and still relevant—Ninth Symphony, and includes discussion prompts that can connect to other compositions.

Topics: Beethoven, Symphonies
Activities: Reading, Discussion
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

In these mini–master classes, members and alumni of Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles (NYO-USA, NYO2, and NYO Jazz) discuss a range of topics, including mastering fast passages, conquering stage fright, essential items for your instrument case, and other pro tips.

Topics: Practice, Performance
Activities: Watching
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

Hear the future of classical music and jazz when the extraordinary young musicians of Carnegie Hall’s national youth ensembles join forces with today’s most celebrated artists.

Topics: Orchestra, Jazz, Performance
Activities: Watching, Listening
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

Step into a master class or workshop at Carnegie Hall led by renowned artists and educators as they coach students in a wide range of topics.

Topics: Workshop, Master Class, Vocal, Instrumental
Activities: Watching
Time commitment: 5–30 minutes
Grades: 6–12

This interactive curriculum familiarizes students with African American work songs, Spirituals, and gospel music to understand their historical and cultural significance.

Topics: Spirituals, Gospel, History
Activities: Watching, Listening
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades 6–12

Join Ensemble Connect musicians in a series of interactive videos that introduce core musicianship skills through guided listening activities.

Topics: Articulation, Texture, Theme and Variations, Ensemble Music Making
Activities: Guided Listening, Discussion
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours
Grades: 6–12

Explore seven impulses that are building blocks of great teaching and consider how you can implement them to expand your teaching.

Topics: Artistry, Community, Equity, Professional Development
Activities: Reading
Time commitment: 15 minutes–2 hours

Bring elements of great teaching to life through a variety of exercises and activities for your K–12 classroom led by top educators and artists.

Topics: Artistry, Composition, Improvisation, Professional Development
Activities: Watching
Time commitment: 5–10 minutes

This video series invites you into K–12 classrooms across the country as teachers share their insights and reflect on their experiences.

Topics: Community, Inspiration, Insights, Professional Development
Activities: Watching
Time Commitment: 5–10 minutes