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New York City

Musical Explorers in the New York City Area

Welcome to Musical Explorers! This curriculum is designed to connect students in grades K–2 to New York City’s rich and diverse musical community as they build fundamental music skills through listening, singing, and moving to songs from all over the world. Throughout the school year, you and your students will meet six New York City–based artists who each represent a different musical genre and cultural tradition; many have reinvented these deeply rooted traditions to make them their own. Together, you will learn songs and dances that you will perform along with the artists during the culminating interactive concerts at the end of each semester.

Fall 2023 Semester

Mele Hawai‘i with Kalani

  • Lesson 1: Learning “E Nā Kini”
  • Lesson 2: Learning “‘Ōpae Ē, ‘Opae Ē”

Iraqi Folk with Layth

  • Lesson 1: Learning “Tal’a Min Beit Abouha”
  • Lesson 2: Learning “Foag el-Nakhal”

Dominican Roots with Yasser

  • Lesson 1: Learning “Palo Bonito”
  • Lesson 2: Learning “Kikondé”

Spring 2024 Semester

Bluegrass with Michael

  • Lesson 1: Learning “Uncle Pen”
  • Lesson 2: Learning “In the Pines”

Kenyan Songs with Makobi

  • Lesson 1: Learning “Koth Biro”
  • Lesson 2: Learning “Mwana wa Mbeli”

Armenian Folk with Zulal

  • Lesson 1: Learning “Doni Yar”
  • Lesson 2: Learning “Tamzara”
Julia and Juan perform
Concert Experience

Participate with your students in a culminating interactive concert experience at the end of each semester.

A world map with scattered pinpoints features photos of artists next to their respective countries.
Interactive Map
Discover the geographic roots of the musical genres featured in Musical Explorers through our interactive Around the World Map.
Teacher Newsletter

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Fund II Foundation
Lead funding for Musical Explorers has been provided by Fund II Foundation, Linda and Earle S. Altman, and Ralph W. and Leona Kern.
Additional lead funding for Musical Explorers has been graciously provided by JJR Foundation and JMCMRJ Sorrell Foundation.
Additional support has been provided by The Edwin Caplin Foundation and Mr. Chretien Risley, Trustee; Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation; KPMG LLP; and John Morning / Turrell Fund.
Musical Explorers is also made possible, in part, by an endowment gift from The Irene Diamond Fund.

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