This thesis seeks to examine the author’s experiences as an intern for Smithsonian Folkways and their work on the Smithsonian Folkways Learning Pathways project. The aim of the Learning Pathways project was to create an open-source resource for K-12 educators and students that utilizes Smithsonian Folkways large and diverse musical catalogue, while also providing a much-needed resource on musics of diverse populations in the USA and abroad. The background of the project, along with the methodologies used both by the author and the Folkways Learning Pathways team to create learning materials are investigated and reported upon, and the ethical implications of the project are explored.