Looking for a resource to celebrate women composers? This set of FREE downloadable posters can be printed out in color or grayscale and features a selection of eight female composers:
Cécile Chaminade
Florence Price
Nadia Boulanger
Ruth Crawford Seeger
Joan Tower
Jennifer Higdon
Gabriela Lena Frank
Hiromi Uehara
Each poster features a photo, biographical information, musical genre, three of their most well-known pieces, fun facts, and a QR code that takes you to a YouTube performance of one of their compositions. If you’re not sure how to use these in your classroom, we’ve got you covered. Here are 5 ideas on what you can do with these posters:
1. Classroom Decor
These posters are simple, informational, and fun. They would make a great bulletin board look or wall decor. Display on your door, on the front of a cabinet, or at the top of your wall. Not enough room for all 8? Feature one or two composers each month throughout the year.
2. Sub Plans
This poster set works as a good foundation for a sub plan activity. Subs can review the biographies with students, listen to or watch videos of their works, or incorporate one of the lesson plans below. They could also be used in conjunction with our “Guided Listening Journal Pages” which you can download here: https://www.wengercorp.com/teacher-resources/our-best-tips-and-a-download-to-make-guided-listening-easier/
3. Lesson: Timelines
Each poster in this set lists the birth date, and death date if applicable, of each composer. Some posters also list notable performances or awards with dates as well. You can have each student, or a small group, create a timeline with the composers, using any relevant dates. Students could be assigned to research supplemental information and prepare a brief report or presentation to their peers. You could also discuss with the children how the genres developed from composer to composer over time.
4. Lesson: Compare and Contrast
Have students or small groups choose two composers that are not in the same genre or time period. They can research their lives and musical influences, listen to pieces from each composer, and then list similarities and differences they find. Students could present this information to peers, or in a written paragraph to the teacher. Elements to compare could include style, orchestration, influences, popularity, instrumentation, etc.
5. Bulletin Board Feature
You might not have room for 8 new posters to be up all year, so these can make a great feature for just a month or two. If you have a unit focused on women composers or a specific genre, use these posters as a resource to enhance learning. You can find three other sets of composer posters on our teacher resources page as well. Feel free to mix and match to create your ideal bulletin board, timeline, or poster set for the year!
