Unveil the beauty of Korean music with this authentic collection of 17 folk songs, rhythms, and dances! Appropriate for elementary through secondary students, this resource brings the sounds of South Korea to your classroom in a vibrant and culturally connected way.

The book’s three parts each explore a unique musical tradition:

1. Arirang: Korea’s most well-known folk song.
2. Ganggangsullae: Short, playful dances accompanied by singing.
3. Samulnori: Percussion music played on drums and gongs.

Like the other books in the World Music Initiative series, this collection presents important historical and cultural context alongside musical concepts, as well as culturally sensitive strategies for using Korean music in a Western classroom.

Throughout, the authors provide music notation, English translations, phonetic pronunciations, and instructional artwork. The book also comes with dozens of customizable PowerPoints, which provide additional listening examples, video demonstrations, and discussion questions.

Designed for students of any grade or ability, The Heart Rhythms, Songs, and Dances of Korea is the perfect source for your students to discover invigorating music and grow culturally.

Dong-Won Kim is a percussionist, music educator, vocalist, composer, and improviser who has studied various forms of traditional Korean music. He has published several method books on Korean music and was a member of the Silkroad Ensemble, led by Yo-Yo Ma. Kim is a music professor at Wonkwang Digital University in South Korea.

Karissa O. Van Liew is an international music educator and a practicing ethnomusicologist. She began playing traditional Korean percussion in 2016 and has presented papers and workshops on Korean music at national and international conferences. She earned her master’s degree in Traditional and World Music from the University of Sheffield.

Karen Howard (Series Editor) is Associate Professor of Music at the University of St. Thomas. Her research and teaching interests include diversification of educational strategies, dispositions, and repertoire to create a more equitable learning environment for students of all ages.