Music Expressions™ Grades 7-8 (Middle School 2): Student Edition: Student Edition

Accessible and inviting without talking down to students. The artwork and activity design acknowledge that middle schoolers are forming their own musical taste while still building foundational literacy and aural skills.

Middle school general music classes, chorus ensembles, or interdisciplinary arts programs looking for a comprehensive resource that reflects where 7th and 8th graders are developmentally. This works for mixed-ability classrooms where students need varied entry points and different ways to connect with music.

• Pair the listening activities with the movement suggestions to reach kinesthetic learners who need to feel the music rather than just hear it.
• Rotate through different performing options (solo, small group, full class) to build confidence in students who are still forming their musical identities.
• Use the creative activities as springboards for student-led arrangements or interpretations rather than as extension work once the core material is done.

Use this as your primary resource for general music instruction, rotating through the units to introduce diverse musical styles and cultural contexts across the school year. The integrated activities make it especially useful for schools developing arts literacy standards or connecting music to other subjects.

• active listening across multiple musical styles and cultural traditions
• performing in ensemble settings (solo, small group, full class)
• relating music to visual art and movement
• music reading and notation fundamentals
• creative response and student-led interpretation