Every March, we consider the women who changed the course of American history. Among those women are countless musicians whose songs have withstood the test of time and whose legacies continue to teach us about creativity, dedication, and courage. They reshaped genres in their own image, refusing to shrink themselves to fit what already existed. They stepped into rooms not built for them and stayed anyway.

In their honor, here’s a short list of awe-inspiring female musicians and what their legacies can teach us about ambition, artistry, and the quiet, persistent work of taking up space.

Make Songs Your Own - Aretha Franklin
A Change Is Gonna Come - Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin helped define the sound of soul music in the 1960’s with ultra-famous hits like “Respect” and “Think”. She’s still one of the best-selling artists of all-time and was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The song “Respect” was recorded originally by Otis Redding, but Franklin rearranged it and recorded her own version on Valentine’s Day in 1967. She transformed it from a funky ballad about traditional family dynamics at the time into a declaration from a confident woman. Her upbeat and musically innovative version became an anthem for the Civil Rights and Women's Rights movements.

Lesson: Don’t just copy how another artist sings a song. Bring your own thoughts, emotions, and experiences to your interpretation. Don’t be afraid to make changes to the music if they feel authentic to you.

Perform with Conviction - Nina Simone
Feeling Good - Nina Simone

Nina Simone is a world class pianist and jazz vocalist whose music played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Her mastery of piano from an extremely young age led to her classical training and fueled a relentless ambition to excel and push boundaries.

She challenged the country’s assumptions about her, confronting racism, sexism, and inequality head-on. Early in her career, she received criticism for expecting respectful audiences, and as she wrote songs like “Mississippi Goddam" about the violent realities of the Civil Rights era, she was frequently denied venues and faced radio bans. Despite this, she refused to soften her message or dilute her artistry.

Lesson: Education should enhance your ability to express yourself, not limit it. Let your formal training coexist with modern music and sensibilities. Find (or write) songs that inspire you.

Write With Emotional Precision - Joni Mitchell
Woman of Heart and Mind - Joni Mitchell

Speaking of songwriting, Joni Mitchell reshaped this artform in the 1960’s and 70’s with her poetic lyricism and raw, confessional imagery. Albums like Blue combined elements of folk, jazz, and pop, all with a unique sound built on open tunings and sophisticated chord structures. She not only expanded the idea of what a woman in the male-dominated 70’s rock scene could be but redefined what any artist at the time could hope to achieve creatively.

Rather than diluting complexity in the name of popularity, she trusted her audience to meet her music with the same emotional and intellectual depth and curiosity she brought to it. In taking that risk, her work stands today as a testament to the power of artistic integrity over commercial compromise.

Lesson: Let your writing be honest and specific. When you have a strong point of view (and a strong foundation in music theory), you can write music that’s specific and personal to you, but also deeply impactful and creatively inspiring to others.

Master Your Craft Deeply - Esperanza Spalding
Espera - Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding is a modern vocalist, virtuoso bassist, composer, educator, and the first jazz artist to win the Grammy Award for Best New Artist. Her work moves fluidly between jazz, classical, soul, and more experimental modern music. Albums like 12 Little Spells showcase her impressive command of harmony and rhythm, as well as her creativity with concept. Her freedom when performing is the result of immense discipline and shows us what beautiful spontaneity can come when you’re thoroughly prepared.

Lesson: Don’t rely on talent alone. Study harmony. Understand rhythm. Learn how arrangements function. The more deeply you master the craft, the more freely you can create.

Honor Your Roots - Irma Thomas
Straight from the Heart - Irma Thomas

Known as the “Soul Queen of New Orleans,” Irma Thomas built her career on poignant, relatable music and regional tradition. Her music is widely covered by other artists who resonate with her emotional honesty and timeless storytelling. Maybe the most famous example of this is her 1964 rendition of “Time is On My Side” inspiring the Rolling Stones to record a cover of the song. The Rolling Stones version became such a hit most people don’t know Thomas was the first vocalist to record it earlier that same year.

Throughout her long career, her voice remains unmistakably her own and continues to inspire people to this day. Year after year, she performs at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and reminds us that soul music isn’t just a genre, but a tradition carried on by real people with real stories to tell.

Lesson: Know where your music comes from. Study regional styles and music your family has passed down. Learn the history behind the genres you perform. Musical depth grows from cultural awareness and personal understanding.

Carrying Their Legacy With Us

We are so inspired by these women: by their talent, their timeless music, their courage, their discipline, and their originality. For students looking to learn more about music, whether that be to deepen a hobby or to enter the music industry, role models like these are invaluable.

In our journey to become just a bit more like them, listening to their music is a great (and easy) place to start. Often, we fall into habits of listening to the same artist or album over and over again. But immersing yourself in the music of these inspiring women and diversifying your playlists is a great way to stay curious and inspired.

Here's one playlist to get you started!
Women's History Month Playlist

If you'd like to go a little further, here are a few more involved exercises you could try in the coming weeks.

● Listen to an album by a female artist all the way through.
● Write a poem. It can be as short or long as you like! It can be formatted like song lyrics or be a bit more freeform.
● Pick a song you like and listen to a cover by a different artist. Practice your own cover with a karaoke track.
● Read an article about a female artist. This is a great one!
● Ask a woman in your life about an album that means a lot to her and why.

Happy listening and happy Women's History Month!