We use cookies in the following ways: (1) for system administration, (2) to assess the performance of the website, (3) to personalize your experience, content and ads, (4) to provide social media features, and (5) to analyze our traffic. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Please consult instructions for your web browser to disable or block cookies, or to receive a warning before a cookie is stored on your computer or mobile device. Read our Privacy Policy.

Country Music Hall of Fame logo.
Museum View Cart
Country Music Hall of Fame logo.

Words & Music

Teacher Resources

Program Request Student Materials
  • Program Length

    45-minute, 10-lesson unit

  • grade levels

    3-12

  • group size

    15-120

  • curricular connections

    English Language Arts, Music, Social Studies

  • select standards

    CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.R.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.R.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.R.W National Association for Music Education Standards 6-9

Engage Students in ELA through Lyric Writing

Words & Music: Teach Language Arts Through Lyric Writing helps students explore the art of lyric writing through ten complete lessons. Aligned with Common Core Standards, this interdisciplinary unit also can be tied to math, music, social studies, and visual arts.

The Words & Music unit is composed of ten 45-minute lessons. The lessons are cumulative, each one building on the next. The final project, writing a polished set of lyrics, combines everything students have learned in previous lessons. Final lyrics are sent to the museum to share with a professional songwriter, who will perform a selection of lyrics as finished songs in a 60-minute program.

Prior to teaching Words & Music for the first time, teachers are strongly encouraged to attend a Words & Music professional development workshop or webinar.

Classroom Resources

Words & Music for All

Words & Music at Home

A space to learn about songwriting, anytime, anywhere.

Learn More

Words & Music Night

Celebrating students and songwriters who participated in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s flagship education program.

Learn More
creativets

Words & Music for CreatiVets

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum maintains a partnership with CreatiVets to provide programmatic support to veterans interested in songwriting.

Learn More

2021-2022 Words & Music Funders

Tennessee Arts Commission Logo
Visit the sponsor's websites National Endowment for the Arts Logo

Words & Music is made possible by the Country Music Association Endowment for Words & Music and is funded in part by Chet Atkins Music Education Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee; CMA; CMA Foundation; Dollar General Literacy Foundation; HCA Foundation; The Memorial Foundation; Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission; Nashville Predators Foundation; PNC Grow Up Great; Tennessee Arts Commission; and Wells Fargo.  

Have Questions or Feedback?

Email us any questions you have while preparing, and don’t forget to fill out the post-teaching feedback survey.

Educator Post-Teaching Feedback Survey Email Us