June is African American Music Appreciation Month, and so I sat down and made a list of some of my favorite songs written by Black artists from various decades and in various musical genres. My list ended up including favorites from jazz, classical, R&B, pop, and more. This month’s challenge is in hopes your student will get to listen to some of these songs, ones you probably love as well, by artists like Stevie Wonder, Etta James, ragtime-extraordinaire Scott Joplin, and I even threw in a classic by Destiny’s Child.
My list is full of songs that make us feel something. They move us emotionally or even physically. That’s why this month’s challenge is called Dance & Draw Party. When we listen to good music, we want to DO something about it. We want to express how it makes us feel. I want your students to choose how they want to do something about these songs: dance, or draw.
These practices are so important in teaching music appreciation. Music doesn’t simply go in and out of our ears; it moves us in a deeper way. A great song written by a great artist can even alter history. Imagine listening to Prince’s Purple Rain. How or what would you draw while hearing that song? What about a classical song? How might you dance to it? You and your student could even do some partner dancing, as if you are in a fancy, black-and-white movie.
Either clear out a space on the floor for some movement or provide your student with some art supplies – markers, crayons, or even paint – and encourage them to “feel” the music, drawing what they feel. There are no wrong answers when it comes to art. And here, we are helping our students see that art – music, dance, and visual art – are all forms of self-expression. And expressing ourselves in a creative way is a healthy and valuable part of being human.
I’d definitely encourage you to join in with your student and model some simple self-expression, either with crayons, or your best dance-floor moves from the 90’s. Turn up the volume! They will love it!
(If you’re a member of Busy Kids Do Piano, you’ll be able to access this Music Challenge Monthly activity in the “Printables and Worksheets” section of the website.)
Check out these posts for other activities and lessons for African American Music Appreciation Month:
Children’s Books for African-American Music Appreciation Month
African American Music Appreciation Month: Nina Simone
Episode 31: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Episode 66: The Life and Music of Florence Price
Episode 48: Folk Music of Congo
Episode 14: African-American Spirituals & Gospel Music
June is African American Music Appreciation Month. I made a list of favorite songs by Black artists across genres like jazz, R&B, etc., including ones by Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Scott Joplin, and Destiny’s Child. This month’s ‘Dance & Draw Party’ challenge hopes students will listen to these songs and choose to dance or draw to express how the music makes them feel, as music moves us deeply and can even change history, and you could even do partner – dancing like in a classic movie.
The initiative of African American Music Appreciation Month in June is a wonderful way to introduce students to a diverse range of songs by Black artists across different genres, and the “Dance & Draw Party” challenge effectively encourages students to actively engage with the music, highlighting the profound impact music can have on emotions and physical expression and its potential to shape history.
The author emphasizes that the songs on the list evoke strong emotions and physical responses, leading to the “Dance & Draw Party” challenge for students to express their musical experiences. This approach is seen as vital for music appreciation, highlighting music’s profound impact and suggesting imaginative ways to engage with different types of music, like drawing while listening to Prince or partner – dancing to a classical piece.
This is a warm, celebratory invitation to explore a diverse playlist of Black artists across genres for African American Music Appreciation Month, from Stevie Wonder to Scott Joplin.
This is a warm, creative, and educational challenge for African American Music Appreciation Month, encouraging children to dance or draw in response to songs by Black artists across genres.
This is a warm, celebratory invitation to explore a diverse playlist of Black artists across genres for African American Music Appreciation Month, from Stevie Wonder to Scott Joplin.
A great way to celebrate with a diverse playlist of Black artists across generations
Music appreciation goes beyond just listening—it invites us to draw, dance, and even partner up, showing how deeply music can move and inspire us.
Music appreciation month becomes a Dance & Draw Party, where songs by Stevie Wonder, Etta James, and Destiny’s Child invite us to move or sketch—because great music makes us want to DO something.
Love the Dance & Draw Party idea! Using art to connect with music like Stevie Wonder is such a cool way to teach appreciation. Could also add writing lyrics as another form of expression!
Love how you encourage dance & draw party – really brings music to life like Stevie Wonder does.
Love how drawing to music deepens appreciation. Nano Banana Pro had similar ideas on creative expression.
What a wonderful way to frame music appreciation for students. I love that you emphasized that music doesn’t just go in and out of our ears but moves us to respond, whether through dancing or drawing. The inclusion of Scott Joplin alongside Stevie Wonder, Etta James, and Destiny’s Child is a great reminder of how rich and varied Black artists’ contributions are across genres. As someone who grew up dancing around the living room to Etta James, I can imagine how much fun students would have expressing what they feel during ‘At Last.’ Your point that there are no wrong answers in art is such an important message for young learners to hear early on. I’d be curious whether you have any suggestions for how to help shy students feel comfortable moving or drawing in response to the music.