Black Composers 101
Inspired by our signature performance series, Black Composers 101, we've created educational on-demand videos and curriculum guides for grades 6-9, highlighting the breadth and depth of Black composers' music, identities, and culture.
Compositions follow themes such as Early Creators, Beyond Classical, Music of the Diaspora, Music for Storytelling, and Experimentation & Improvisation.
Together, these themes take students through time and place with music from the 1700s to the present day. We go beyond the Western classical canon by exploring how composers have brought their unique identities and experiences into their compositions.
Curriculum guides are designed to encourage deep listening with reflective questions that provide a greater understanding of the social and cultural context of the piece.
It is our hope and aspiration that each video and guide gives you the tools and resources that will allow you to bring the works and stories of Black composers into your classroom.
With each performance, we celebrate Black culture and our contributions, and we hope that this is a resource that can deepen students’ understanding of not just the works of Black composers but also develop a greater appreciation for the multifacetedness of Black culture.
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Part 1
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The Early Creators: Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
Hear the string quartet perform 17-century composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-George “String Quartet No. 3” and learn more about life in 17th-century France.
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Beyond Classical: Tomeka Reid
Hear the quartet perform the rhythmic “Prospective Dwellers” by Tomeka Reid and learn about the influence of jazz that can be heard in many compositions today.
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Music of the Diaspora: Gifrants
Explore and get a better understanding of Haitian composer Gifrants, Natif style by listening to Mizik Demafwa.
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Music for Storytelling: Jean "Rudy" Perrault
Take a deep dive into the history of Haiti and listen to Jean “Rudy” Perrault’s Exodus III. Hope for String Quartet inspired by those who were forced to flee their homelands.
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Experimentation & Improvisation
Discover and explore more experimental compositions with a listen to Joy Guidry’s “On the Wings of a Hummingbird”.
Check out the curriculum to learn more about graphic notations and how to create your own graphic score.
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Part 2
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The Early Creators: Florence Price
Listen to the quartet perform Florence Price’s first string quartet, String Quartet in G. Major.
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Beyond Classical: Damien Geter
Listen to the many sounds of Black music with Damien Geter’s Neo Soul.
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Music of the Diaspora: William Grant Still
Discover the sounds of Panamanian folk tunes with William Grant Still’s Danzas de Panama.
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Music for Storytelling: Sam Cooke
Listen to the civil rights anthem, A Change is Gonna Come by Sam Cooke with a spiritually arresting arrangement by Joel Thompson.
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Experimentation & Improvisation: Jessie Montgomery
Hear the quartet improvise and create their own drumming with Jessie Montgomery’s Voodoo Dolls.
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Meet your instructors
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Meet your instructors ✳
Alexis Peart
D-Composed
Journey along and discover the music of Black composers with video performances by members of D-Composed.
After you watch the performances, download the curriculum guide to access interactive and culturally responsive teachings developed by Alexis Peart.
What you’ll learn
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Discover music by Black composers across genres and disciplines ranging from early creators of the 1700s to composers of today.
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Discover how music can serve as a reflection of identity, culture, and society at large.
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Learn about how composers choose to express themselves through various musical styles and techniques.
Course FAQ
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All curriculum guides are designed for grades 6-9
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These guides are designed for teachers and teaching artists to implement the activities as they please. You can choose to do 1 or all the activities based on the individual needs of your classroom.
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While some questions are geared towards music students, we’ve intentionally designed the lessons to be broad so any classroom, including social studies, can teach about the works of Black composers in regard to social and cultural contexts.
While these on-demand videos and curriculum are free, your support would help us continue developing impactful content to spread the works and stories of Black composers in your classroom.
Consider paying what you can by hitting the button below so we can continue developing more videos, curriculum guides, and composer interviews.
Created by Boulanger Initiative, Castle of Our Skins, and D-Composed as part of the Music Inclusion Hub, a digital hub of culturally responsive, intersectional, mixed media resources for elementary, middle, and high school educators nation-wide.
"To learn more and explore all of its K-College materials, please visit www.musicinclusionhub.com."
