Click the Buttons to Learn all About the History of Classical Music, History of Jazz, and the History of Rock and Roll!
This is a free online music history curriculum for music teachers and students to learn about music history. Each topic has information about the music eras, composers, and instrumentation, along with song samples, activities, and critical thinking questions. This site is designed so you can easily access this as a music history lesson in the classroom, for students to work on their tablets, or for independent research or study. Also included are free music history worksheets that go along with each topic.
How Did Music Start?
The Beginning of Music
Our ability to make music is distinctively human, and so we can find artifacts about music that date thousands of years ago. The oldest known musical instrument is a 60,000 year-old Neanderthal flute. It was discovered in Divje babe cave near Cerkno, Slovenia. The flute was made out of the bone of a bear and has four pierced holes in it to make the pitches on the flute.
Notation
The earliest piece of musical notation we know about is on a Sumerian clay tablet that is 4,000 years old. It gives instructions and tuning for a hymn which honored the ruler Lipit-Ishtar. Click on the buttons above to find out more about music history.
Our ability to make music is distinctively human, and so we can find artifacts about music that date thousands of years ago. The oldest known musical instrument is a 60,000 year-old Neanderthal flute. It was discovered in Divje babe cave near Cerkno, Slovenia. The flute was made out of the bone of a bear and has four pierced holes in it to make the pitches on the flute.
Notation
The earliest piece of musical notation we know about is on a Sumerian clay tablet that is 4,000 years old. It gives instructions and tuning for a hymn which honored the ruler Lipit-Ishtar. Click on the buttons above to find out more about music history.
Angela BondMusic Teacher/ Musician/ Owner of Plum Rose Publishing
Angela has an MA in Vocal Performance and a BA in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music. She plays piano, sings, writes songs, and has been teaching music for over two decades. She's taught preschool through college level classes and loves music history. During the pandemic she decided to take her stimulus money and start a publishing company. Plum Rose Publishing has since grown into a resource for teachers nationwide. |
Brian TrumbleAuthor and Musician
Brian plays multiple instruments including the saxophone, piano, and sings. He is a terrific writer and actor. |