MARCH MUSIC LESSON TEACHING RESOURCES PART 1 for 2024

Incorporating holiday and particular event themes is crucial to make your music lessons impactful in March. March presents a wealth of classroom celebration opportunities, including Women's History Month, Music In Our Schools Month, St. Patrick's Day, and the Spring Equinox.

Including these special events in your instruction can keep your students invested and engaged in their learning, resulting in a more enjoyable and productive educational experience. Furthermore, several celebrated composers and musicians have birthdays in March, providing the perfect opportunity to designate a "composer of the week/month."

This post offers a comprehensive list of March events, holidays, and special days that can be utilized as teaching themes, topics, and ideas for meaningful music lessons to increase student engagement and motivation.

1 MARCH is Frederic Chopin's Birthday

Frederic Chopin was a Polish music composer and pianist of the Romantic era. He was best known for his piano solo pieces and piano concerti.

Chopin's meticulous craftsmanship and superfine imagination made him rank as one of music's greatest tone poets. 

MTR presents the following resources to help teachers introduce Chopin to their students:
      

The Nocturne Op.9 No 2 Guitar Duo is a beautiful arrangement for young guitarists!

Your students might enjoy this short video about Chopin's life!

1 MARCH is Justin Bieber's Birthday

Justin Bieber is a Canadian singer and teen idol who sparked a global craze in 2009.

It all started in 2008 when Scott "Scooter" Braun, a music promoter and talent agent, saw YouTube videos of 13-year-old Bieber singing popular R&B songs. 

It happened that R&B singer Usher was there and was impressed by Bieber's talent. Usher helped sign him to a recording contract in late 2008.

Learn more about Bieber and his music with the Music Listening and Research Foldables.

2 MARCH is Chris Martin's Birthday

Chris Martin is an English musician and the lead singer of Coldplay, a band that won multiple Grammy Awards.

Coldplay has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling musicians. They are known for their hit songs like "Yellow" and Viva la Vida".

The resource below is a perfect tool to help students learn more about Chris Martin and his music.

Watch the following video of Viva La Vida, arranged for Boomwhackers and featuring the saxophone, cello, trumpet, keyboard and some bucket drumming thrown in!
 

3 MARCH is Margaret Bonds' Birthday

Margaret Allison Bonds was an American composer, pianist, arranger, and teacher.

Margaret was among the first Black composers and performers to gain recognition in the United States.

She studied with Florence Price and was the first Black soloist to perform with the Chicago Symphony.

Margaret Bonds is best remembered today for her popular arrangements of African-American spirituals.

A creative resource to learn more about Margaret Bonds and her music is the 'Music Listening and Research Foldables. 'Your students will enjoy the activities inside.

Click the image below to learn more. 

4 MARCH is Antonio Vivaldi's Birthday 

Vivaldi was born on March 4, 1678, in Venice, Italy.

His late Baroque instrumental music style greatly influenced later composers, including  J.S Bach, making Vivaldi one of the most iconic composers. 

Vivaldi's most famous work is the set of concertos known as The Four Seasons.

MTR has many teaching resources to support teachers with learning activities to introduce students to Vivaldi and his music. Check out the following:
      

Rhythm Play-a-Long

Try this fun rhythm, Play-a Long, to 'Spring' from the Four Seasons with your younger students.

8 MARCH is International Women's Day

What better day could there be to celebrate women in music?

MTR has over one hundred resources focused on female musicians or composers. Click the image below to see them all!

10 MARCH is Amanda Aldridge's Birthday

Amanda Christina Elizabeth Aldridge, also known as Amanda Ira Aldridge, was a British opera singer, composer of Parlour songs, and teacher who composed under the pseudonym Montague Ring.

Amanda was the daughter of African-American actor Ira Aldridge.

Amanda Aldridge studied composition and singing at the Royal College of Music.

Listen to the song 'Azalea' composed by Amanda. It has an unusual instrumental accompaniment - piano and banjo!

The verses are in a minor key and change to major for the chorus. This is a good point for students to focus on as they listen to the song. 

A handy resource for listening activity is the Amanda Aldridge Foldable.
 

12 MARCH is James Taylor's Birthday

James Taylor is the epitome of the troubadour whose life is the subject of his songs.

James is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist who defined the singer-songwriter movement of the 1970s.

Taylor won several Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.

Learning in a fun and engaging way - you'll find that in the resources listed below:
    

17 MARCH is St. Patrick's Day 

Saint Patrick's Day is when people celebrate Irish culture worldwide.

Commemorate this special occasion and review music concepts with St. Patrick's Day-themed resources.

CLICK the image to preview the resource and download this FREEBIE.

See all the available MTR St. Patrick's Day Music Resources by clicking the image below.

17 MARCH is Nat King Cole's Birthday

Nat King Cole was a legendary American singer and jazz pianist.

Born Nathaniel Adams Coles on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama, he grew up in Chicago, Illinois.

By age 12, he played the organ and the piano in the church where his father was a pastor. Cole formed his first jazz group, the Royal Dukes, five years later.

Cole's most significant commercial success was his warm ballads and light swing.

Nat King Cole is hailed as one of the swing era's best and most influential pianists and small-group leaders. 

Cole owes most of his widespread musical fame to his soft baritone, perfect pitch voice.

The resources listed below are a perfect accompaniment to teaching students about Nat King Cole:
      

17 MARCH is Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre's Birthday

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre's birthday is unknown, but she was baptized in Paris, France, on March 17, 1665.

Elisabeth was a composer and also played the Harpsichord and organ.

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre was the first French woman to compose an Opera.

Elisabeth was a pioneer in writing vocal music.

Jacquet de la Guerre's first published collection of pieces was for the Harpsichord.

Listen to a little about Elisabeth's life and her composition 'Chaconne' being played on a harpsichord.

Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre's Music Foldables is an excellent resource to use after watching the YouTube clip.

Download the 'MARCH Teaching Ideas and Resources' as a PDF to keep in your files for quick access.

DOWNLOAD your copy here.

See PART 2 of this blog post. 

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