Songs are like time capsules, filled with messages from a moment in history. They’re also fun to sing, making them an appealing and effective tool for the classroom. The Center for American Music at the University of Pittsburgh is pleased to be offering a five-week summer institute for K-12 teachers. “Voices Across Time: Teaching American History Through Song” will be held from June 26 through July 28, 2006 at the University of Pittsburgh. The Institute, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), will allow 25 secondary school teachers to explore topics in American history through the lens of music.

Teachers attending the Voices Across Time institute in 2004 had the following comments:

“I implemented the information immediately and my students have responded with an enthusiasm that exceeded my expectations.”

“Voices Across Time demonstrated the appeal and power of interdisciplinary learning. The extensive curriculum developed by the Center for American Music is easily implemented at any level, with rich bibliographies to encourage further research.

“It was a wonderful experience.”

Each week during the Institute we will focus on a broad topic in American history, utilizing popular songs as primary source documents. Lectures and discussions led by historians and musicologists will help participants strengthen their knowledge of particular historical topics and develop insights into the dynamic interaction of popular music and society. Carefully selected field trips (including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Gettysburg, and the Andy Warhol Museum) along with historical live performances (by Mike Seeger, Jay Unger and Molly Mason, and Bill Schustik) will offer uniquely engaging evocations of an historical context.

While the institute is designed for teachers of grades 7 through twelve, it can be adapted for younger grades. Teachers of history, social studies, language arts, music, and related disciplines are invited to apply. Additional information, along with application materials, is available at www.voicesacrosstime.org. More information about the NEH and its programs is available at www.neh.gov.