Music Genre Family Tree Project
Map out how music genres are connected — blues begat rock, rock begat punk, jazz begat hip-hop. Draw the family tree of modern music and listen along the branches.
What You'll Need
- 1Large paper or poster board
- 2Markers or colored pencils
- 3Phone for music clips and research
What You'll Need
Large paper or poster board
Markers or colored pencils
Phone for playing music clips and looking up genre history
How to Play
Start with a big piece of paper. Draw a tree trunk at the bottom with two root systems: "African Musical Traditions" and "European Classical Music." Everything grows from these.
Draw the first major branches growing upward: blues, gospel, folk, classical, jazz.
From blues, draw branches to rock and roll (1950s), R&B, and soul. Add representative artists: Chuck Berry, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles.
From rock, branch into punk, heavy metal, alternative, and indie. From each, sub-branches can grow even further.
From soul and funk, draw branches to disco and hip-hop. From hip-hop, branch to trap and electronic. The tree keeps growing.
As you add each genre, pause and listen to a 30-second representative clip. Put a face and a sound to each name.
Color-code by era so the visual tells the story of time passing: older genres near the roots, newer ones at the branch tips.
Tips
The key insight is that no genre exists in isolation. Every style of music was influenced by what came before it. When kids see the connections, they understand music history.
Include non-Western traditions: Indian classical, Afrobeat, K-pop, reggaeton. The tree has more branches than any one culture.
Some connections are surprising: country music shares roots with blues. Electronic music borrowed from jazz improvisation. Hip-hop sampled everything.
Let your child add their favorite current artists and trace their genres back through the tree to the roots. "Where does Billie Eilish's music come from?"
This is a living document. Add to it over months as you discover new genres and connections. The tree keeps growing, just like music itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does this activity take?
This activity takes about 35 min, with 5 min of preparation time beforehand.
What materials do I need?
You'll need: large paper or poster board, markers or colored pencils, phone for music clips and research.
What age is this activity for?
This activity is designed for 8-12 years. You can adapt it for younger or older children by adjusting the complexity.
Can this be done indoors?
This activity is designed for indoor play, making it perfect for rainy days or when you're staying inside.
How difficult is this activity?
This activity has a moderate difficulty level. It may require some preparation or guidance, but is manageable for most families.
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