Jean-Michel Basquiat, “painted and wrote poetry to Bach, Bowie and bebop,” according to the New York Times. (Photo: Edo Bertoglio)

Writing lyrically that “Some of the greatest written works of our time have been inspired by music,” New York Times reporter Natalie Proulx goes on to cite Walt Whitman conceptualizing and writing “Leaves of Grass” while listening to opera, and Alice Walker, Langston Hughes, Ntozake Shange and Ralph Ellison “all moved by spirituals, jazz and blues”A while Hamilton author Lin-Manuel Miranda’s historical fancies took flight due to his love of hip-hop.

Drawing on those compelling examples, the Times offers an innovative instructor tipsheet with nine educator tips for using music as a teaching tool, complete with tracklist.  MaxTheTrax wholly advocates the need for arts in the classroom as part of an effective education. Check out the full piece “Nine Teaching Ideas for Using Music to Inspire Student Writing.”

Invite your students to read the article and then listen to the Times-curated Spotify playlist “The eclectic taste of Jean-Michel Basquiat” as they view his art and read his poetry. Discuss what they notice about the musical influence in Basquiat’s work. How do the content, colors, textures and shapes in his paintings resemble the sounds they hear? How are these reflected in the words, phrases, mood and rhythm of his poems?

The piece further goes on to explore:

For inspiration, students might check out the Times “Diary of a Song” video series to see how songwriters and musicians like Zedd, Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber make hits. What stands out to them about these songs? What are the artists’ processes for making music?

In related news, Swiss photographer Edo Bertoglio, who shot the compelling image of Jean-Michele Basquiat used here, is having a  music-related exhibit at the Cortesi Gallery in New York beginning May 21. “Figurines” (1978-82), features collection of portraits featuring iconic figures from the New York punk/new-wave scene. It will be exhibited concurrent with “Ladies” (2010-11), a series made in Switzerland and dedicated “to the charismatic natural intensity and self-awareness of ageless women from the present.” Count us in!