March is Music in Our Schools Month. Celebrate with these beautiful films plus our free lesson plans to boost student engagement across the curriculum including Music Education, Language Arts, Social Studies, History, Environmental Science and more! For grades 5 and up.
Five Great Films to Teach for Music in Our Schools Month
Disney’s hit film Chevalier was inspired by the true story of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the historic Black violinist, composer and fencer at the court of Marie Antoinette. The Chevalier Discussion Guide explores Joseph Bologne’s legacy, as well as the impact of music and the arts on social and cultural revolutions. For high school.
Powerful Holocaust Education film Defiant Requiem chronicles how prisoners at Theresienstadt (Terezin) concentration camp used music and the arts as a tool of resilience and resistance. The Defiant Requiem Curriculum Guide includes lessons on Verdi and his requiem, and also on the psychology of art and resilience. For grades 6 and up.
Landfill Harmonic is an inspiring documentary about the Recycled Orchestra of Cateura, the Paraguayan classical music group that plays instruments made entirely out of upcycled garbage. The Landfill Harmonic Curriculum Guide includes a lesson all about this amazing youth orchestra. For grades 5-10.
Summer of Soul documents the extraordinary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, in an epic celebration of Black history, culture and fashion. The Summer of Soul Curriculum Guide introduces students to iconic Black musicians of the 1960s. It also features an activity where students plan their own music festival. For grades 9-12.
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble presents a vivid portrait of a bold musical experiment and a global search for the ties that bind that brings together musicians and artists from around the world. The Music of Strangers Curriculum Guide features a lesson on ancient instruments and a printable PDF about traditional instruments around the world. For grades 9-10.
Plan Ahead
In addition to Music in Our Schools Month, these films can also be great choices to teach with for Classical Music Month in September, International Music Day on October 1, and Violin Day on December 13.