English as a Second Language Through Music

Here is a sampling of resources that can be helpful in teaching and learning English as a second language through music. Search our database to find more similar resources.

Legend:
	Available in English		Collections		Extra Cost
	Available in French		Access Restricted

Arts Alive – Music Resources for Teachers
http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/musicresources/teachers.html#2

The National Arts Centre (NAC) presents ArtsAlive.ca Music, a great place to discover the excitement of the performing arts! Learn all about orchestral music, the NAC Orchestra, its musicians and friends, great composers, conductors and much more!

CanTeach: Songs & Poems
http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems.html

This site lists hundreds of songs and poems for the classroom and provides many links to other resources.

BBC – Guide to the Orchestra
http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/guide/

Hear a horse neighing through a trumpet; meet the violinist who could have been a gardener, see if you can spot the orchestra, and much more.

Canadian Social Studies Songs
http://www.songsforteaching.com/canadasongs.htm

This resource provides the lyrics (and in some cases sound clips) for songs about Canada's history, prime ministers, geography, and way of life.

EFL/ESL Songs And Activities
http://www.songsforteaching.com/esleflesol.htm

This resource presents lyrics (and in some cases sound clips) in order to use music and games to teach English as second language.

CBC Archives: Arts and Entertainment
http://archives.cbc.ca/arts_entertainment/

Hundreds of thousands of hours of radio and television history at both the CBC and Radio-Canada have been restored, preserved and catalogued for safe-keeping and for use by future generations. This page features topics on Canadian arts and entertainment. Students and teachers can access videos and radio sound clips. Some topics are accompanied by educational activities.

Classics for Kids®
http://www.classicsforkids.com/index.asp

In the classroom, classical music can be an exciting tool. The Classics for Kids® lesson plans and teaching resources give teachers practical, effective plans and activities that use classical music to help children learn.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra — Musical Instruments
http://www.dsokids.com/2001/instrumentchart.htm

Learn about the four different families of musical instruments that are present in a symphony orchestra. Members of the families are "related" by the similar ways in which they produce sound.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids — Searchable Lesson Plan Database
http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=272

A Web site by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Lesson plans all related to a music theme. Search this database by subject category or grade level.

Digital Library – Music
http://www.collectionscanada.ca/music/index-e.html

This Digital Library page offers music, collections of published materials, as well as research tools. Musical material includes works by famous Canadian musicians, historical aspects of Canadian music, and links to locating archival material on music and musicians.

ESL through Music
http://www.forefrontpublishers.com/eslmusic/

Created and developed by a researcher and expert on the topic, this website provides teachers with the direction they need to use music in the most effective way in the ESL classroom. Teachers can download lessons as well as research study findings and other articles that support its use in the ESL classroom.

Play Music
http://www.playmusic.org/index.html

Play Music is a children’s web site sponsored by the League of American Orchestras. The goal of this site is to provide information to youth about music in an interesting and fun presentation. Children can learn about the instruments that make up an orchestra, learn about composers and play online games.

Science of Music
http://www.exploratorium.edu/music/index.html

Explore the science of music with us, through these online exhibits, movies, and questions. Along the way, you can compose, mix, dance, drum, experiment, and above all…listen.

Songs for Scouts and Scouters
http://www.macscouter.com/Songs/

The MacScouter's Songs for Scouts and Scouters collection includes some good old campfire songs, silly songs, and chants and songs for leaders.

Teaching Language with Music
http://gs.fanshawec.on.ca/tlwm/

For all teachers who love to use music to teach language: activity links, bibliography, methodology, and activities to download.