For Teachers

Music of US creates interactive programs for middle and high school students that deepen understanding of United States History and Civics using music and other primary sources from the Library of Congress digital collections.

In each Music of US Episode, students discover important music, musicians, that reflected and contributed to the rich fabric of U.S. history and culture while making connections to themselves and society today.

The Episodes are easy for students and teachers to use:

  • They can be played from this website, with no login needed.

  • Episodes can also be easily assigned in your classroom management system.

  • Each episode takes between 10-15 minutes to play .

  • Students will explore important musicians and music and how they contributed to the fabric of U.S. history and culture, while making connections to themselves and today.

Go to the Episodes
Download Teacher Guides

Quick Guide to Implementing Music of US with your classroom

Assigning Episodes

Episodes can easily be assigned in your LMS. (See Instructions and links on each Episode page.)

They run in the browser on PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks, and can be played in class or as homework assignments. No logins required. Completion activities can also

Grade levels

Music of US episodes can be used with Middle and High School students, and we have done successful student pilots from eighth grade Music classes to junior and senior US History and Social studies classes.

Social Studies, U.S. History, and Music classes supported (Better title?)

We will offer guides and lesson plans for Social Studies, History, and Music teachers. (Music classroom guides coming soon.)

Standards Alignment

Music of US episodes align with ELA Social Studies (CCSS) and C3 standards for grades 6-12, and Core Arts standards for music. Detailed standards alignments can be found in teachers guides.

Lesson Plan Ideas / Implementation Ideas

Episodes can be used as individual assignments and as front-of-class activities.

Educators are encouraged to follow up student exploration of an Episode by replaying key music from it and by guiding a class discussion as a means of formative assessment. Each episode’s teacher guide has detailed ideas.

Technical notes

Music of US Episodes run in a web browser and will work on PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, and tablets. (While it can technically work on phones, it’s not designed for small screens).

Teachers and students can access Episodes from the Music of US website: https://www.musicofus.org.