Program Description

Throughout the program, students are asked to listen to the different instruments individually, even though they are being played together. For example, the Bartok piece represents music for a ritual stick-dance. Students are asked to listen to each of the instruments to determine which of them represents the stick. (In this case, it is the cello.) Then students are asked to explain the purpose of the other parts. The exercise introduces students to the idea of melody versus accompaniment. This dissecting of the piece allows the students to listen more discriminately among the different parts to determine how each plays a vital role in ensemble playing.

Students are introduced to a variety of musical styles. In particular, they are shown how to recognize differences in style in pieces by Debussy, Saint-Saens, and Bartok.

List of terms:

Bridge
Bow
Finger rest
Peg
Strings (violin, cello)
Chin & Shoulder rests
Keys
Hammer
Pedals
Sound holes
pizzicato
staccato
legato
pianissimo
forte
mezzo forte

Musical excerpts:

American Ragtime: The New Rag - Scott Joplin Trio
Romanian Gypsy Stick Dance: Jo Cu Bata - Bela Bartók Trio
French Ballet: Gymnopedie - Eric Satie Trio
The Swan - Camille Saint-Saens Cello & Piano
The Brook, the Sparrow and the Beetle - Gaspar Cassado Cello & Piano
To A Wild Rose - Edward McDowell Trio
Technique/Absolute Music: Pizzicato - Leo Delibes Violin & Piano
The Ritual Fire - Dance Manuel De Falla Trio

GUIDELINES FOR FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION

Q: What instruments were in today’s concert?
A: cello, violin, piano

Q: How many strings does a violin or cello have?
A: 4

Q: How many keys does the piano have?
A: 88

Q: What types of musical styles were presented?
A: World Music, Descriptive or Program Music & Absolute Music

Q: What is the word for plucking the strings of a stringed instrument?
A: Pizzicato

Q: How many people does a trio consist of? Duo? Solo?
A: 3, 2, 1

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENT FEEDBACK
ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENTS TO WRITE TO US
USING ONE OF THESE BEGINNINGS

What was your favorite part of the program and why?

If you had to choose an instrument to play, which one would it be?

The music I heard today made me feel or think of….

I’ve noticed that some classical music is used for cartoons and……

Music can make me feel like….

Music is important in today’s society because….