While our March Music Madness bracket is meant to be fun musical discovery for listeners of all ages, it can be an especially good resource for home enrichment.
In light of school closures and more families seeking home learning, we want to pass along some curriculum materials that we built for the March Music Madness program. While they’re fun for all ages, these specific sheets were designed for middle-school students.
This year’s bracket included music for wind ensemble, and last year we featured orchestral music. Both of them include 32 pieces, all matched up for some thematic similarity. We have attached both here. Even though last year’s tournament is over, and this year’s is down to the final four, there’s no reason your family can’t have their own tournament at home.
Hear all of the wind ensemble picks here.
Hear all of the orchestral picks here.
Click on either year to download a PDF printable bracket.
All of these pieces are an opportunity for active listening. We created a listening guide that can actually be used for any piece of music; it doesn’t even just have to be classical.
Download a free printable listening guide.
And this is a great opportunity to take a closer look at a favorite composer, or one who you just discovered. So, with this next page, use the template to draw your new favorite composer, and fill in some fun facts. Do several and build a composer hall of fame! Hint: you can also use this worksheet for any composer, whether they are in the bracket or not.
Click on the text to download a free printable color-a-composer worksheet.
There are many other resources available online for music learning.
- WGUC in Cincinnati has a podcast called Classics for Kids. They have lesson plans on their website, as well as interactive games.
- WQXR has also begun a listening program on their website, with contributions from kids shared daily on their Instagram.
- WUOL in Louisville has a podcast called The Music Box, which teaches the fundamentals of music to kids.
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