Beginning this week, students will move on from the works of Vivaldi and the Baroque Era to the slightly more streamlined and cleaner sounds of the Classical Era.
We'll be focusing our efforts on the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A familiar composer to many of our kids, he is a fascinating composer to study! Mozart got his composing start rather early - at the age of 5!! This fact really seems to resonate with my students, as I remind them that musical talents come pretty early! And it helps the younger students relate to Mozart to realize how he was composing by the time he was their age!
We'll take the opportunity as we study a "young" composer to do a little composing ourselves! This week, I intend to introduce the students to online composing/arranging activities!
Mozart's works are recognizable, as I've played one particular piece (the tune is the one we know now as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star") for them to hear. We'll talk about patterns in musical, the nice clean and airy sound of Major 3rd intervals (something Mozart enjoyed using a lot in his works), and getting good at scales. Trust me, you can't play much Mozart if you aren't practicing your scales!
On the Classics for Kids website, there's another great show to listen to on Mozart (choose #2):
http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showview.asp?ID=27
Students are encouraged to bring in something to contribute to our bulletin board related to the Classical Era or Mozart. Looking forward to their contributions!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Baroque & Vivaldi
During the months of January and February our students will continue learning about four major "eras" of musical influence as part of their lesson.
We began our focus on the Baroque Era. One of the most famous composers of this time period was Antonio Vivaldi. He wrote the famous "Four Seasons" Concerto. The students have learned about Vivaldi and his music at age appropriate levels for each child.
For instance, the younger students are listening to "Spring" and "Autumn" and sharing their feelings about the mood of the music (is it happy, sad, slow, fast?) and elements of the music that make them think of each season (Spring has little violin trills that sound like birds, etc.).
Older students have been assigned arrangements of some of Vivaldi's works to play themselves. They're studying techniques and working hard to add emotions and expression to their pieces.
All students have been encouraged to bring in something to contribute to our bulletin board, and I'm so impressed with what they've shared. We have pictures that were printed, pictures that were drawn by hand, an image of a gorgeous Baroque cathedral, and some research that has taught ME several new things about Mr. Vivaldi! FUN!
I shared a link with families by email several weeks ago and would like to include it here for your reference. Please see the below video for a great introduction to Vivaldi's work and a little more information about the composer. This is from the "Classics for Kids" website:
http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showview.asp?ID=1
We began our focus on the Baroque Era. One of the most famous composers of this time period was Antonio Vivaldi. He wrote the famous "Four Seasons" Concerto. The students have learned about Vivaldi and his music at age appropriate levels for each child.
For instance, the younger students are listening to "Spring" and "Autumn" and sharing their feelings about the mood of the music (is it happy, sad, slow, fast?) and elements of the music that make them think of each season (Spring has little violin trills that sound like birds, etc.).
Older students have been assigned arrangements of some of Vivaldi's works to play themselves. They're studying techniques and working hard to add emotions and expression to their pieces.
All students have been encouraged to bring in something to contribute to our bulletin board, and I'm so impressed with what they've shared. We have pictures that were printed, pictures that were drawn by hand, an image of a gorgeous Baroque cathedral, and some research that has taught ME several new things about Mr. Vivaldi! FUN!
I shared a link with families by email several weeks ago and would like to include it here for your reference. Please see the below video for a great introduction to Vivaldi's work and a little more information about the composer. This is from the "Classics for Kids" website:
http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showview.asp?ID=1
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year
Happy New Year!
I'm eager to see each of my students next week after our Christmas vacation ends. My mind has been busy with new ideas over the break. We've tied a nice bow on 2012 with the great job you all did with your Christmas songs.
Looking forward to hearing how each student's family "performance" went with their Christmas pieces and looking forward to giving each student a NEW GOAL to work toward!
As a quick update, we sent 7 boxes out to Operation Christmas Child in December, and because of a new system implemented by Samaritan's Purse, we will be able to track where each of our boxes ends up all over the world. I will keep students posted as I hear where the toys and treasures they so diligently worked for end up!
We also collectively earned enough points (right at the end) to donate a goat to an impoverished village through World Vision International! I will be sharing news about that gift with each student at their next lesson and will include more details about it in the upcoming newsletter that will be sent home next week.
I'm so very pleased with each student's progress over the first few months of lessons and look forward to significant piano accomplishments in the New Year! We'll begin putting details together toward a Spring Recital very soon, so stay posted for more information on that! Thank you all for your hard work and practice!
And I'll see you next week!
Love,
Mrs. Dunlap
I'm eager to see each of my students next week after our Christmas vacation ends. My mind has been busy with new ideas over the break. We've tied a nice bow on 2012 with the great job you all did with your Christmas songs.
Looking forward to hearing how each student's family "performance" went with their Christmas pieces and looking forward to giving each student a NEW GOAL to work toward!
As a quick update, we sent 7 boxes out to Operation Christmas Child in December, and because of a new system implemented by Samaritan's Purse, we will be able to track where each of our boxes ends up all over the world. I will keep students posted as I hear where the toys and treasures they so diligently worked for end up!
We also collectively earned enough points (right at the end) to donate a goat to an impoverished village through World Vision International! I will be sharing news about that gift with each student at their next lesson and will include more details about it in the upcoming newsletter that will be sent home next week.
I'm so very pleased with each student's progress over the first few months of lessons and look forward to significant piano accomplishments in the New Year! We'll begin putting details together toward a Spring Recital very soon, so stay posted for more information on that! Thank you all for your hard work and practice!
And I'll see you next week!
Love,
Mrs. Dunlap
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