Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the National Museum of African American Music (NMAAM) uplifts and preserves "the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack," through exhibitions and educational materials. From Nothing to Something fulfills part of NMAAM's educational mission. While the complete curriculum covers several instruments, the online version (courtesy of the online learning platform QuaverEd) focuses on the banjo and spoons. The history, traditions, and influence of both instruments are divided between three lesson plans (with six units available in total). These lessons are highly interactive, inviting learners to click through each portal and discover embedded videos, response questions, activities, and more along the way. In addition to being a great fit for classroom settings, caregivers may also value the portal, as in many ways it resembles online games or virtual reality tools, while also immersing users in an important history. Readers will want to click the Menu icon in the top right corner to find printable materials that accompany the online components, as well as brief instructions for navigating the platform.
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