TeachRock

08/30/2026

“Before she was an icon, Dolly was a working musician.”

Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” reached the top of Billboard’s Country, Hot 100, and Adult Contemporary charts. It earned an Academy Award nomination, two Grammy Awards, and became an anthem for working people everywhere, especially working women.

Dolly didn’t just write about dignity at work. She showed it in her actions, treating her band and fellow musicians with integrity, solidarity, and respect. Dave Pomeroy of Nashville’s AFM Local 257 said she set the “gold standard” for supporting the musicians around her.

For educators, Dolly stands out as a role model for a lesson taught in classrooms across America:

Treat others as you want to be treated.

Check out TeachRock’s “Women’s Perspectives in Country and Tejano Music” to see how Dolly and other groundbreaking artists used music to challenge expectations and speak up for women’s rights.

🔗 Explore the lesson through the link in our bio.

Thank you, Dolly. 💛

08/06/2026

From Edison to Eilish, the story of vinyl is about more than music. 🎶

How did Thomas Edison’s groundbreaking Diamond Disc Players shape the future of recorded music? Why has vinyl made such a remarkable comeback? And what can today’s artists—like Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift—teach us about environmental sustainability?

TeachRock’s “From Edison to Eilish: Vinyl Records, Disc Players & Environmental Sustainability” connects more than a century of music history with science, technology, economics, and environmental studies, helping students discover how innovation continues to shape the world around them.

Explore this free lesson and thousands of other music-based educational resources at TeachRock.org.

08/04/2026

What an incredible night for TeachRock classrooms! Sir Rod Stewart performed an intimate private concert—featuring a sit-in from our Founder Stevie Van Zandt—and raised more than $1 million to bring free, arts-integrated education into classrooms across the country.

We can’t thank Sir Rod, Penny Lancaster, Kim Gianelli, event curator Mark Aldridge, and Nick King’s Blue Dog Group production team enough for their creativity and positive energy. Nor can we offer enough gratitude to our hosts, the Roberts Family.

Heartfelt thanks also to Chef Daniel Boulud, to Château d’Esclans and Moët Hennessy, Guerlain and The Macklowe Whiskey for their generosity, to our auction donors, and to every guest whose support made this remarkable evening possible.

07/22/2026

Reggae is a living history that reflects resilience, culture, and social change.

At TeachRock Uprising, educators learned about reggae’s lasting impact by hearing firsthand stories from Pat Chin, co-founder of VP Records and a key figure at Jamaica’s famous Randy’s Studio 17. Her journey gave teachers a unique chance to connect music with history and share real stories with their students.

It was an incredible conclusion to the TeachRock / NYC Public Schools professional development tour—we can’t wait to kick off the 26-27 season!

HistoryEducation

07/07/2026

New York City celebrated music history by officially naming a street Jimi Hendrix Way in honor of the legendary guitarist.

TeachRock captured this special event, where educators, musicians, community leaders, and fans came together to honor the incredible legacy belonging to one of rock’s greatest innovators.

Hendrix changed the sound of music, and his story still inspires conversations about creativity, culture, history, and expressive artistry in classrooms all over the country.

Want to explore his legacy even further? Visit TeachRock.org to discover our free Jimi Hendrix lessons, classroom resources, and hundreds of standards-aligned music history lessons that help students connect music to history, culture, and the world around them.

🎸 Watch the celebration.
📚 Explore the lessons.
🎶 Bring music history into your classroom.

06/22/2026

What can Reggae music teach us about history, culture and identity?

Join TeachRock for a free edWebinar exploring how educators can use music as a primary source to trace Reggae's roots in the African diaspora and connect students to powerful stories across U.S. and global history. Participants will walk away with ready-to-use lesson plans, classroom resources, and practical teaching strategies.

📅 Tuesday, June 23, 2026
⏰ 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Register today: https://home.edweb.net/webinar/musiced20260623/

06/10/2026

History isn't only in textbooks. Sometimes, you can find it on a street sign.

Today, New York City officially named West 8th Street in Greenwich Village as "Jimi Hendrix Way," honoring one of music’s most influential artists and the neighborhood that shaped him.

At TeachRock, we believe music brings history, culture, and the world to life for students. We’re joining Experience Hendrix to bring Jimi’s story and era into classrooms nationwide.

Hendrix’s legacy, from Greenwich Village clubs to today’s classrooms, still inspires creativity, innovation, and self-expression.

When students learn through music, history becomes more than words—it becomes something they can feel.

To learn more, read the full story in The New York Times or visit our website for further details.

Today brings changes to New York’s cityscape, including 900 candelabras at Lincoln Center and a co-name for West Eighth Street.

06/09/2026

TeachRock Honor Roll members, you’re automatically entered for a chance to win a VIP night with Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul on Friday, July 3, in Freehold, NJ!

Grand Prize: 2 VIP tickets + two-night stay at the Molly Pitcher Inn on the Navesink River (with waterfront breakfast) + $250 Visa gift card (package value: $1,500)

5 Runner-Ups: A pair of VIP tickets each (value: $400)

Plus, monthly raffles year-round for every member.

Not a member yet? Join the Honor Roll today and get in on the action

06/04/2026

Welcome to the TeachRock Board, Peter Shapiro!

Peter has built renowned music communities at Wetlands, Brooklyn Bowl, and the Capitol Theatre, and has devoted his career to encouraging connection through live music experiences.

That same spirit makes TeachRock a natural fit.

As Peter shared: “Music has always been a powerful force in my life, building community, inspiring creativity, and bringing people together in meaningful ways.”

We’re excited for what comes next!

05/26/2026

What if in-school suspension wasn’t just a place to sit and wait, but a place to reflect and find your way back?

That’s what’s happening at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, where educators are using the TeachRock curriculum to reimagine what support looks like for students who need it most. Instead of isolation, students get tools to regulate, restore, and return to their school community ready to engage.

This is what it looks like when a school believes in its kids. We are proud to be part of that work.