Crazy for Composers!

Over the past 2 weeks, students in grades 1-6 have been studying various famous composers. It's important to look back at those who have laid the foundation for the music that we have today! There's a reason that their music has stood the test of time. 

Grade 1 - Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev
Students are introduced to various instruments of the orchestra through this musical story. Each character is represented by it's own instrument and melody. 




Grade 2 - Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens
Carnival of the Animals is a collection of 14 short musical pieces for piano and orchestra. Each piece depicts a different animal. Students completed listening log activities for each animal. Here are a few samples: 



Grade 3 - Ludwig Van Beethoven

Students were introduced to Beethoven with this prezi: 


After much discussion, students began viewing the movie, "Beethoven Lives Upstairs" - a film based on a period of Betethoven's life in Vienna. Grade 3 loves Beethoven!

Grade 4 - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart was a child prodigy. He was composing and performing all over Europe as a very young child. Although he lived a short life, his music has lived on for centuries. One of his most famous works is his opera, "The Magic Flute." After learning about Mozart's life and music, students were shown clips of a live opera performance of "The Magic Flute." Then, they viewed the cartoon version based on the opera. 



Grade 5 - Franz Liszt
Franz Liszt was a Romantic Era composer with fame and a fan base we like to call "Liszt-a-mania." He was the 'Elvis Presley' or the 'Beatles' of his day. Much of his music was inspired by gypsies and Hungarian folk songs. One of his most famous works, "Hungarian Rhapsody #2," became the central piece for many cartoons: 





Grade 6 - The Sound of Music

Instead of studying a composer this year, grade 6 students are studying the classic musical, "The Sound of Music." The year 2015 marks the 50th anniversary of this film. With its iconic songs, whimsical characters, and intriguing story lines there is bound to be something in it for everyone!

At the most recent Oscars award show, Lady Gaga performed an incredible medley of some of the most famous songs from "The Sound of Music:" Here is a trailer for the original movie: