As the third Monday of January approaches in the States, schools will close to observe the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was born on January 15, 1929. In music classes, many music educators will use numerous resources to study how Dr. King used nonviolent resistance to achieve equal rights. Here are some that I have used together in my classroom.
I am Martin Luther King Jr by Brad Meltzer. Read aloud by Ms. Melange.
My second graders are studying biographies and presenting their studies to their parents and caregivers this week. Since they studied Dr. King in grade one, I use this read-aloud to incorporate their biography study into the music classroom.
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Kid President
About a decade ago, Kid President, aka Robby Novak, started a YouTube channel called Soul Pancake, produced and directed by his brother-in-law, Brad Montague. For the next few years, Kid President would give us knowledge, teach us lessons, interview many famous people, and remind us to be awesome. His talk about Dr. King is a great one for children to connect to and understand.
“Martin Luther King” by Barbara Ames
Who could forget when Lin Manuel Miranda, at the height of Hamilton, gathered together alumni from Hunter Elementary School from 1988-2001, to share his elementary music teacher’s song, “Martin Luther King”? This is a wonderful tribute to Martin Luther King composed by their beloved elementary music teacher, Barbara Ames. My third and fourth graders have learned this song in previous years because they loved the message.
Martin Luther King Jr. For Kids - Song & Rap by NUMBEROCK
This rap is a wonderful way to learn about Dr. King and Civil Rights. From NUMBEROCK,
“Learn all about the Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr and how he rose to become one of the greatest men in History by his message of nonviolent resistance. This video reviews facts from his boyhood, education, marriage, and finally discusses his many battles and victories won as leader of the Civil Rights Movement until his tragic death. His words live on as we contemplate his many important messages of equality, peace and love this Martin Luther King Jr. Day.”
Numberock will only play the rap from their YouTube channel found here.
Sing About Martin by Miss “Jackie” Weissman
This call-and-response song is a popular one with my students. There are a few versions found on YouTube. I took the arrangements found on Kelly Martin’s channel and Ms. Music1234’s channel. The copy of the music I have has Miss “Jackie” Weissman listed as the composer. I also found a source that lists Jackie Silbert as the composer.
Many music educators add motions to the words, “caring” “loving” “peace” and “world”. Others use this as the call-and-response song in their warmups at the beginning of the class. I record my classes in Soundtrap EDU and mix them together to share with their families and caregivers on Seesaw.
I also created this sing-along and play-along to be used with the other resources listed here so that the students hear and learn about many aspects of his life and achievements. The first part is for singing either the call-or-response with the singers. The second part gives the students the opportunity to perform simple rhythm patterns and then perform the melody on Boomwhackers. If the melody is too challenging, have the students perform the rhythm of the words on their rhythm sticks.