Resources
K-12 Resources
Teacher Workshops
The Foundation hosts teacher workshops to introduce bluegrass music to classroom and music teachers at all grade levels (including home schooling parents) by giving them practical lesson plans and tools to use bluegrass music to meet educational standards. Contact us for info on the next scheduled teacher workshop in your area.
Lesson Plans
We’ve gathered a collection of award-winning bluegrass-related lesson plans for teachers to use in the classroom. They have been organized by content categories and K-12 grade levels for your convenience!
Coloring Book
Everything You Wanted to Know about Bluegrass and More! is a coloring book for primary students, written by Art Maynor. Thanks to the Mayor family for allowing us to share a free digital download.
Discover Bluegrass
Discover Bluegrass: Exploring American Roots Music introduces young viewers to an original, joyful and uniquely American genre of acoustic roots music through six instructional units, each roughly 10 minutes in length. Demonstrations include a look at the vocal harmony structure used in bluegrass music and the instruments used.
Free Strings
Go to this link to see a preview of the new Free Strings online curriculum for teaching bluegrass and blues music. Developed by Iowa educator Annie Savage, the project was a recipient of a 2022 IBMA Foundation project grant.
The Bluegrass and Blues module in Free Strings is designed to train a classroom orchestra instructor to deliver the skill set and technique used in bluegrass bands, jams, and workshops to public school students.
Higher Ed. Resources
The Bluegrass Music Higher Education Database
More and more colleges and universities are offering degree programs, ensembles, scholarship and academic research opportunities in the field of bluegrass music, and we’re working to keep a database of educators/band directors/scholars up-to-date. If you’d like to be added to this ever-growing list, please contact us.
Bluegrass College Band Showcase
The last week of September in Raleigh, NC, at IBMA’s World of Bluegrass week, the Foundation hosts a showcase of college bluegrass bands from across the country. It’s a great place to check out emerging talent. The showcase and info sessions are also valuable to high school students interested in bluegrass college degrees, ensembles and scholarships. Email Nancy Cardwell at info@bluegrassfoundation.org or call 615.260.4807 if your college bluegrass band or ensemble is interested in the 2023 Bluegrass College Band Showcase scheduled for Sept. 29-30 in Raleigh, NC.
Camps & Workshops
There are a number of bluegrass music camps and workshops offered across the country and around the world, for learners of all ages.
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The IBMA Foundation
1183 University Drive #105-215
Burlington, NC 27215
615.260.4807