Exploring the World of Sound
- Explore the Sounds of Our City (PDF) gives your students an opportunity to act as musical detectives outside of the classroom, listening for sounds and music in their everyday lives and recording them in the “journal” provided.
- Discover Music in Everyday Objects (PDF) highlights common objects found at home or in the classroom that can be used to create DIY musical instruments. For example, a cardboard box can be strung with rubber bands of different sizes to create a string instrument; a set of drinking glasses filled with different amounts of water can be struck with a spoon or a chopstick to create a xylophone-like instrument; and two pot lids can be struck together like cymbals. Encourage your students to discover other objects that can yield interesting sounds.
Create a Postcard (PDF) gives your students an opportunity to share what’s special about their neighborhoods as they are learning about the New York City neighborhoods associated with each of the genres.
The Listening Walk
In Paul Showers’s The Listening Walk, get immersed in all the sounds around you as you join a girl walking her dog throughout the neighborhood. You may even hear sounds you wouldn’t expect!
More Core Activities
Sing the “Carnegie Hall Musical Explorers Song”
The “Carnegie Hall Musical Explorers Song” is the theme song of the program and is performed at the beginning and end of each concert experience. This song can be a great way to introduce students to the world of Musical Explorers and can become a staple in your warm-up.
Where Do Our Artists Come From?
Discover the geographic roots of the musical genres featured in the curriculum through our interactive Musical Explorers Around the World Map.
Vocal and Body Warm-Ups
Demonstrated with direct-to-student videos led by teaching artist Shanna Whitney, these warm-up exercises can be used to establish a routine that fosters healthy vocal technique, kinesthetic learning, and active listening.
Rhythm Training School
Master percussionist Tupac Mantilla leads body percussion and found object challenges in direct-to-student videos. There is a set for students in grades K–2 and another for grades 3–5.
Developing an Explorer Mindset
Created for students specifically in grades 3–5, music educator Margaret Jenks asks thought-provoking questions on how to develop an explorer mindset.