Ray Charles used the pain and adversity from his life to influence an entire genre of American music. Learn about the musician's daily life, struggles and success, and powerful musical style with a thorough resource.

Concepts

country music, black history month, music appreciation, music analysis, braille

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Use in a music appreciation class during Black History Month
• Have Ray Charles songs playing as learners come into class

Classroom Considerations

• Designed to accompany a visit to an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, but most of the lesson works without the museum trip

Pros

• Uses a study of black history, American music history, and a lesson on Braille to round out the details of Charles's life
• Adaptable lessons make the resource well suited for any grade level

Cons

• Resource will not print well due to its irregular orientation

Common Core

W.3.4 W.5.4 L.3.1.a L.4.1.a L.5.1.a W.6.4 W.7.4 W.8.4 W.9-10.4 W.11-12.4 L.6.1.a L.7.1.a L.8.1.a L.9-10.1.a L.11-12.1.a