Below are the available music units. Please visit often, as more will be added soon.

Glossary of Terms for the Music Section (PDF download)

John Ramirez & Paul Tracey

Every Picture Tells a Story - Shows the process of working with a creative team as they take an idea and develop it into a storyboard sequence. The project begins with a musical composition, Turbo Power, featured on the audio recording (along with two other pieces). In the video, you see a telescoped version of the full creative team process illustrated by both live action sequences, leading to the final storyboard accompanied by the music.

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Paul Tracey

International Troubadour - My Family Home and The Immigrant Song are based on Paul Tracey’s experiences in his homelands. My Family Home is a nostalgic, lilting, melody about returning to the family home in South Africa. The lyrics skillfully paint a picture of well-remembered sights, sounds, and even smells of the countryside. The chorus is sung in the Fanagalo language. The song conveys the spirit of the composer who revels in the culture of the people and the land. The Immigrant Song, from the show “The Great Briton,” portrays an immigrant, like Paul, who prefers to “live my life in the good old U.S.A.”

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AMAN Folk Ensemble - A Cajun Medley

A Cajun Medley - Violinist John Zeretzke is on a never-ending quest for new ideas and idioms of music. His expertise in violin styles includes Cajun, Greek, Hungarian, Romanian, Appalachian, Eastern European, Gypsy, Asian, jazz, classical and country. This suite captures the unique spirit of the Cajun culture, indigenous to the State of Louisiana. Lessons focus on guided student listening skills, folk music of the American South and tracing the evolution of southern American styles of music from their origins to present-day.

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Chic Street Man - Rag Man & Losing You

Rag Man & Losing You - Chic Street Man has created a unique vocal style which is all his -- a potpourri of blues, reggae, folk, pop and jazz. Chic uses his guitar, singing and speaking voice to tell the tale of the rag man through his own eyes and memories from his childhood. Lessons reveal game-song traditions, story songs and the Blues as a musical vehicle for speaking about one's life.

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Korean Classical Music and Dance

Toraji Taryong & Kahng-Gang-Sool-Le - Repertoire includes folk as well as the ancient formal court music and dance. Students learn about the history of Korean music and see dancers in a colorful array of costumes perform a variety of dances. Two Korean songs reflecting the spirit of the people are featured on the audio cassette. Lessons focus on building understanding for music composed in the pentatonic scale, learning a Korean song and creating beautiful movement to Korean music.

Access Korean Classical Music and Dance's individual Artsource® Model Unit

Japanese Festival Sounds - Asobi

Asobi - Originating in ancient India as part of religious and ceremonial events and celebrations, Taiko drumming found its way to Korea, China and Japan. The musical group Japanese Festival Sounds/ Kinnara Taiko blends the traditional art of Taiko drumming with a modern Japanese-American style. The intent is to communicate the cultural fusion through these contemporary compositions for the Taiko drums. John Y. Mori states, "As we express ourselves we create new traditions." Lessons focus on rhythmic patterns, percussion sounds and fusion.

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Questions? Please call us at (213) 972-3392 or email ablaisdell@musiccenter.org

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