George Walker Classical Music | Black History Month Social-Emotional

Item description

Just print & play! Do you need engaging George Walker/Black History Month activities or music sub plans? Each page offers creative ways for students to learn more about the classical compositions of George Walker.

Did You Know?

• George Walker was the first African-American to win a Pulitzer Prize for Music.
• His first recital (age 14) took place at Howard University.
• He was the first black recipient of a doctoral degree from Eastman School of Music.
• June 17, 1997 was declared “George Walker Day” in Washington, D.C.

What’s Included:

1-page Resource Guide – This guide will get you started quickly! Just print and play.

Listening Sheet Star Rating Guide – A reference sheet illustrates the five-star rating system included in most listening sheets. Each frame has a description, with one being “okay” and 5 stars as “Wow!”

Listening Sheets – There are no wrong answers! Students can note how they feel and what they imagine while listening to a selected piece of music. Choose from the musical instruments, nature scenes, colors, and more. There is a space for drawing and several non-musical elements to consider, such as animals and nature.

Weather and Emotions Listening Sheets

Weather is a recurring theme in classical music. Does a musical piece remind the listener of a snowy day or a cheerful sunny afternoon? Students can select the weather symbols that come to mind. Is the music happy or sad? A set of emotional characters allows your group to pick the feelings that best relate to a piece of music.

2 Biography Pages – Fact sheet (1 or 2 facts are already provided, a box to paste/draw the composer’s portrait, and a birthday box to color in and decorate cupcakes! A duplicate blank page is included for students to do their own research.

Composer Research Sheet – Students can use their favorite reference materials to compile a full page of facts about the composer’s home country. Some of the research options include capital, continent, population, food, and more.

Composer Rating Activity – There are more options to profile the composer on the rating sheet, including which season and musical style they belong to. This can also be used as a listening sheet or as a bulletin board display.

Word Composer Activity – The classic letter puzzle, students can use all the letters from the composer’s full name to create new, shorter words and record their scores. Add a timer for an extra challenge.

Musical Selections (two pages per piece)

01. Sinfonia No. 4

02. Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1

03. String Quartet No. 2

04. Piano Sonata No. 5

05. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra

06. Bleu for Unaccompanied Violin

07. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra

08. Pageant and Proclamation

► It can be hard to keep track of all the dates and eras in classical music history, so we created this freebie to help you out! Grab this six-page guide of composers sorted by musical period. Birthdates, birthplaces, and their famous compositions included. Get this instant download delivered right to your inbox!