OCTOBER MUSIC LESSON RESOURCES PART 2 for 2023

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This is the second part of a two-part post on music lesson teaching resources for October.

You'll find 'OCTOBER MUSIC LESSON TEACHING RESOURCES PART 1 for 2023' HERE.

17 October is Alan Jackson's Birthday

Alan Eugene Jackson is an American country music singer. He was one of the most popular male country music artists of the 1990s and early 21st century.

Jackson received many awards, including the Country Music Association award for entertainer of the year in 1995, 2002, and 2003.

Alan Jackson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

Preview MTR's prepared bio and listening activities for Alan Jackson.

18 October is Chuck Berry's Birthday

Charles Edward Anderson Berry, popularly known as Chuck Berry, was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who pioneered rock and roll.

Nicknamed the "Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive with songs.

Berry significantly influenced subsequent rock music by writing lyrics that focused on teen life and consumerism and developing a music style that included guitar solos and showmanship.

Check out MTR's word search puzzle with a research activity to help your students learn more about the life and music of Chuck Berry.

21 October Dizzy Gillespie's Birthday

John "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet legend and one of the founders of a revolutionary jazz style known as bebop.

Gillespie possessed tremendous technique and played with abandon, reaching the highest notes in the trumpet's range.

In 1989, Gillespie was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Check out this music foldable to introduce your students to Dizzy.

Listen to Dizzy Gillespie playing "A Night in Tunisia" Live!

21 October is Celia Cruz's Birthday

Celia Cruz was a Cuban American singer who reigned for decades as the "Queen of Salsa Music," electrifying audiences with her wide-ranging soulful voice and rhythmically compelling style. She was awarded numerous prizes and distinctions throughout her career, including two Grammy Awards and three Latin Grammy Awards.

Learn more about Cruz and her music with these MTR resources:

22 October is Franz Liszt's Birthday

Franz Liszt was a Hungarian composer and the most outstanding pianist of his time. He went on many European tours, where everyone filled the concert halls to hear him. Many of his piano pieces were more challenging to play than anything written before. Liszt also wrote music criticism and was known as a conductor and teacher. He trained many of the performers of his time in his tradition.

Learn more about Liszt and his music with these MTR resources:

24 October is Big Bopper's Birthday

Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., known as The Big Bopper, was an American musician, songwriter, and disc jockey. His big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star. He is best known for his recording of "Chantilly Lace". In 1959, The Big Bopper died in the same plane crash that killed fellow musicians Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.

Learn more about The Big Bopper and his music with these MTR resources:

25 October is Georges Bizet's Birthday

Georges Bizet was a French composer of the Romantic period. He is best known for his opera Carmen, the best-known of all French operas. Bizet was also very good at writing dramatic music. The music he wrote for the play L'Arlesienne (The Girl from Arles) is still enjoyed today.

Learn more about Bizet and his music with these MTR resources:

25 October is Johann Strauss II's Birthday

Johann Strauss II was an Austrian composer, conductor, and violinist. At 19, Strauss started his own orchestra and conducted his first public concert. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music. Strauss became famous for his waltzes, earning him the title "King of the Waltz".

Learn more about Strauss and his music with these MTR resources:

25 October is Katy Perry's Birthday

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, known professionally as Katy Perry, is an American singer and songwriter.

She gained fame with her string of hit songs for her playfully 'cartoonish' sense of style.

Perry is one of the world's best-selling music artists, having sold over 143 million records worldwide.

Learn more about Katy Perry and her music with MTR elementary and middle school resources.

Listen to one of Katy's most popular songs.

26 October is Keith Urban's Birthday

Keith Lionel Urbahn, popularly known as Keith Urban, is a New Zealand-born Australian-American musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter known for his work in country music.

Recognized with four Grammy Awards, Urban is considered one of the leading exponents his music genre, also earning fifteen Academy of Country Music Awards, including the Jim Reeves International Award, thirteen CMA Awards and six ARIA Music Awards.

Urban is also the songwriter and performer of the song "For You" from film Act of Valor, which earned him nominations at the 70th Golden Globe Awards and the 18th Critics' Choice Awards in the Best Original Song categories.

Check out MTR's available music resources to learn about the life and music of Keith Urban.

31 October is Halloween

I was feeling scared about how your kids could enjoy Halloween this year. Have no fear - MTR's Halloween-themed resources are here!

31 October is National Magic Day

Magic, Wand, Stars, Magical, Magician, Magicians, Trick

This day is a chance to appreciate the thrill of seeing the performance art brought by magic. Grab your top hat and magic wand and enjoy these MTR's magic-themed music coloring sheets!