Music Workshop

Music Workshop Our mission is to educate, inspire and motivate K-8 students through relevant and culturally responsive music education.

Music Workshop creates and provides free, culturally responsive music curriculum along with comprehensive professional development training for teachers – fostering a well-rounded education for all. Music Workshop is a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon that creates and supplies free of charge, supplemental music education resources that are delivered through an online portal. Our p

rogram delivers high-quality music education to schools everywhere regardless of means, location or musical expertise. Music Workshop’s program is formatted to be a valuable part of any K-8 school music curriculum. www.musicworkshop.org
Buy coffee and donate to Music Workshop at Exilior Coffee! https://exilior-coffee.peachs.co/a/music-workshop

All our courses introduce music and artists that are representative of the student’s world around them, weaving traditional examples and artists with fun and exciting new musicians. In addition to more established topics like musical instruments and genres, Music Workshop also features a groundbreaking series of courses on Cultures. In the Culture Series, Music Workshop uniquely introduces music and musical traditions from different cultures from around the world. Music is a natural conduit for students to learn about cultures outside of their own and it is tremendously important that students feel represented in their educational design. Music Workshop is dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom. It is our intention to continue creating and expanding music resources that help students become connected to the global world in which they live. Additionally, the Music Workshop program includes valuable social and emotional learning strategies that positively impacted students. What can a teacher expect from the program?
*After creating an online account, teachers have full access to all Music Workshop resources. Music Workshop courses and materials align with National Education Standards.
*Courses are prepped and ready for download, giving teachers a turnkey music education resource
*Currently, 25 courses are offered, educating students on the history and appreciation of many musical genres, instruments, careers in music and cultures
*Our culture series is unique within grades K-8. It creates and presents music education that exposes students to music and musical traditions from many cultures and heritages around the world
*All materials within the Music Workshop program are dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion
*Courses include downloadable videos and supporting materials segmented by grade: K-2, 3-5, 6-8
*Courses integrate music education with reading, physical activity, active listening and critical thinking
*Supplemental materials like Fill-in sheets, Activity sheets, google classroom quiz and Sound Bites (a recap of what they learned) are included with course materials
Each course is approximately 45 minutes long (including teacher-led Q&A), broken into 4- 10 minute segments
*Courses provide a great, ready-to-go sub plan

THE PROGRAM IS COMPLETELY FREE OF CHARGE! (We fundraise through grants, private donations and our annual fundraiser to keep the program free to all schools)

Sharing this one more time because Hispanic Heritage Month is right around the corner and we want every music teacher to...
08/31/2026

Sharing this one more time because Hispanic Heritage Month is right around the corner and we want every music teacher to be ready.

Music Workshop's free Heritage Month Planning Calendar has you covered for September and every heritage month through the end of the school year - specific lessons, mini lessons, ICAN Listen features, and more, all mapped out and ready to go.

One page. The whole year. Completely free.

https://musicworkshopedu.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Heritage-Months-with-Music-Workshop.pdf

Create a free account or log in at musicworkshop.org.

A new school year is here - and Music Workshop's professional development is ready to help you hit the ground running.Wh...
08/30/2026

A new school year is here - and Music Workshop's professional development is ready to help you hit the ground running.

Whether you want to sharpen your classroom management, focus on your own well-being, or deepen your approach to music listening, our PD courses are designed for music educators and general classroom teachers alike. Online, self-paced, and completely free.

Start the year with more tools in your toolbox.

Create a free account or log in at musicworkshop.org to explore our PD courses. Free with the code EBM

We lost Dolly Parton this week. What a loss. She embodied authenticity, warmth, optimism, and grit. And those songs.  We...
08/28/2026

We lost Dolly Parton this week. What a loss.

She embodied authenticity, warmth, optimism, and grit. And those songs. We will never forget the extraordinary, unstoppable kindness of a woman who never seemed to forget where she came from or who she wanted to help.

She gave the world over 332 million free books through her Imagination Library. Giving one a month, from birth to kindergarten, for children who might not otherwise have any. She started it for her father, who never learned to read. She grew it into a gift for the whole world.

At Music Workshop, we believe what Dolly believed: that every child deserves access to learning, to art, to the things that make life richer and bigger and more meaningful.

She showed us what that kind of love looks like in action.

Rest in peace, Dolly. You were one of a kind.

Science of Sound: your brain on music.When you listen to music, four key areas of your brain spring into action - all at...
08/27/2026

Science of Sound: your brain on music.

When you listen to music, four key areas of your brain spring into action - all at once.

The auditory cortex hears it. The motor system connects the sound to rhythm and movement - it's why you can't help but tap your foot. The limbic system links it to your emotions and memories. And the reward system releases dopamine, the same brain chemical triggered by eating chocolate.

Four regions. One song. That's the power of music.

This is one of the reasons we're building Music in Life, our upcoming course series exploring exactly what music does to us - brain, body, and emotion. More details coming soon.

Create a free account or log in at musicworkshop.org.

Wear the message. Fund the mission.The Music Workshop Merch Shop is officially open - and every purchase helps keep Musi...
08/26/2026

Wear the message. Fund the mission.

The Music Workshop Merch Shop is officially open - and every purchase helps keep Music Workshop free for educators and students around the world.

Whether you're a music teacher who wants to rep what you believe in, or someone who wants to support music education in a tangible way, this one's for you. Show the world that music matters.

Shop now at musicworkshopedu.org/shop

Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15th - is your music classroom ready?Music Workshop has you covered with a rich...
08/25/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15th - is your music classroom ready?

Music Workshop has you covered with a rich lineup of resources. Explore the musical traditions of Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America through two full courses. Spotlight Puerto Rico with a dedicated mini lesson. And bring it all to life with the Happy Song ICAN Listen - a joyful, focused listening experience your students will love.

All free. All ready to go. All waiting for you at musicworkshop.org.

Create a free account or log in to get started.

Tonight is the night!Music Workshop's Soundwaves series is bringing live music to Pix in the Park, and we could not be m...
08/21/2026

Tonight is the night!

Music Workshop's Soundwaves series is bringing live music to Pix in the Park, and we could not be more excited. Join us at Hidden Creek Park West tonight, August 21st, for a free pre-movie performance by Music4Harmony, a talented local youth strings ensemble, from 7:30 to 8:10pm.

Then stay for the show - How to Train Your Dragon (2025) starts at dusk, between 8:15 and 8:45pm.

Live strings. A crowd favorite film. A summer evening in the park. All completely free.

Bring the family, bring a blanket, and come see what this incredible group of young musicians can do.

Presented by Music Workshop and the Cultural Coalition of Washington County. See you there! musicworkshop.org

08/20/2026

Ever notice how impossible it is to stay still when a great song comes on? There's a reason for that.

When you dance to music, your brain lights up in a way that almost nothing else can match. Music fires the reward centers. Movement activates the sensory and motor circuits. Together they create what neuroscientists call a "pleasure double play" - and the effects go far beyond just feeling good. Dancing builds memory, sharpens focus, strengthens the mind-body connection, and can even protect the brain as we age.

This is the Science of Sound. And the young scientist in this video says it beautifully.

Watch the whole clip here: https://youtu.be/LfBe-vDgx5k?si=isx5TEw3ymuXe_kz

Create a free account or log in at musicworkshop.org.

Our K-2 library keeps growing - and this school year is bringing some of our most exciting additions yet.Coming soon: K-...
08/19/2026

Our K-2 library keeps growing - and this school year is bringing some of our most exciting additions yet.

Coming soon: K-2 versions of Country Music, Traditional Music from Africa, Popular Music from Africa, and Music from West Asia. All built to be more interactive, more engaging, and perfectly suited for your youngest students.

Whether you're mapping out your whole year or just looking for what's next, these are worth adding to your plans now.

Create a free account or log in to explore what's already available and stay tuned for what's coming at musicworkshop.org.

Address

4858A SW Scholls Ferry Road
Portland, OR
97225

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Music Workshop posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Music Workshop:

Shortcuts

Share