For the next 3 weeks, you'll notice a similar flow to our lessons. I tried to keep our lessons as close to what we would be working on in class together as I could! You will hopefully notice how each consecutive lesson builds on the previous lesson.
If you'd like or need any help with any of this, please email me at kjohnson@sau49.org and I'd be happy to help via email or video chat!
Music Class Day 1:
If we were still at school, we'd spend the next few weeks putting the finishing touches on the Rap of the States. Using the sheet music here, sing along with the "other singers" version from beginning to end. If you feel overly confident, you could try singing it WITHOUT the "other singers" instead!
Next, we will return to our study of Beethoven. Today, we'll be learning about Symphony #6. Beethoven nicknamed this symphony the "Pastoral" symphony because it was fully-inspired by NATURE. Remember, Beethoven LOVED nature and was known for his daily walks outside the city of Vienna into the countryside where he could be surrounded by the beauty and sounds of nature. If you listen carefully, the final (5th) movement of the "Pastoral" Symphony is FILLED with musical depictions of nature. Please listen to this recording of Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, Movement 5 for at least the first 3 minutes. As you listen to those first 3 minutes several times (or listen to the whole piece), draw one full-sized picture of THINGS FROM NATURE THAT YOU HEAR IN SYMPHONY #6. Please use color in your picture before it's complete, and then send me an email at kjohnson@sau49.org with a photo of your finished picture!
Finally, we're going to try some remote Bucket Drumming. Find something in your house that resembles the bucket drumming materials we have at school. (A large pot and two wooden spoons, perhaps? Or maybe you actually have a clean, empty 5-gallon bucket and some wooden dowels in the shed or garage? Get creative and find something close!)
Open these Single Bucket Grooves and practice any 4 of the 6 lines on the first page only. Notice the 2 sounds - the rim and the head (top) of the drum - and how they are notated on the musical staff. Follow the music slowly and carefully at first! If you are especially proud of your work, send me a video or let's video-chat so I can see how well you're doing!
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Music Class Day 2:
Today will feel a lot like last week. Start by quickly reviewing the Rap of the States. Using the sheet music here, sing along with the "other singers" version from beginning to end. If you feel overly confident, you could try singing it WITHOUT the "other singers" instead! Are you starting to memorize parts of it yet??
Next, we'll get back to Beethoven. Today we'll be learning about a PIANO piece called "Fur Elise." Not only was Beethoven known for being a professional pianist, but he was also a piano teacher to students young and old! It was common for him to compose masterful, professional piano pieces, but he also spent time writing much simpler pieces that were tailored to the learning needs of his students. "Fur Elise" was written for a student named Elise (no, not the young lady he proposed marriage to). It has 3 distinct sections and the first and last sections are nearly the same, so we would say that the musical FORM of this piece is A-B-A.
Watch this performance of "Fur Elise," and see if you can hear the A-B-A form. How does the B section sound different than the A sections? Please send me a brief email or Google doc with your answer!
Bonus: try to follow this creative movement version of "Fur Elise" - it's fun!
Last, we'll finish again with Bucket Drumming. With your same "instrument" as last week, please open the Single Bucket Grooves again. Practice ALL 6 lines on the first page. Then, try 1-2 lines on the second page. Remember, pay careful attention to how the 2 sounds - the rim and the head - are notated on the musical staff. Always follow the music slowly and carefully at first! If you are especially proud of your work, send me a video or let's video-chat so I can see how well you're doing!
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Music Class Day 3:
FINAL DAY for the Rap of the States!! Using the sheet music here ONLY IF YOU NEED TO, try singing it WITHOUT the "other singers" today! Can you do it?? If not, sing along with the "other singers" version again. How much can you sing from memory at this point?
On to... Beethoven! The final piece we'll be covering in our Beethoven unit is his final symphony, Symphony #9. Beethoven finished it only 3 years before he died, and he was fully deaf for the entire time he wrote it. We will be listening to a selection from the last movement of Symphony #9; the melody of this section is nicknamed "Ode to Joy." Beethoven did something with this movement that had never been done in a symphony before: he added SINGERS!! Remember that he was born in Germany and lived in Austria as an adult; both are German-speaking countries. So, when we listen, we will expect the singers to be singing in German. Though you won't know what they're saying, the emotion of their words and singing is very clear. Please listen to these highlights of "Ode to Joy" from Beethoven's Symphony #9.
Funny enough, the "Ode to Joy" melody actually only contains 5 notes! And guess what? You are now going to learn to play "Ode to Joy" on the piano!! Spend at least 10 minutes practicing "Ode to Joy." You will need to activate Flash player - it won't work without it (and likely won't work on a mobile device unless you have a special Flash-supporting browser).
(Bonus #1: Do not do this as part of today's lesson, but if you're ever bored, check out this video of the entire movement - all 30 minutes of it! 😲 And, this video has English translations of the singing.)
(Bonus #2: Ever see an orchestral flash mob? Check out this video! I loved seeing the instruments multiply and the reaction of the crowd. 😊)
Finally, we'll finish with Bucket Drumming again. With your same "instrument" as the last two weeks (unless you care to upgrade!), please open the Single Bucket Grooves again. Quickly practice ALL 6 lines on the first page, and then work on lines #7, 8, 10, and 11 on the second page. Remember, pay careful attention to how the 2 sounds - the rim and the head - are notated on the musical staff. Always follow the music slowly and carefully at first! If you are especially proud of your work, send me a video or let's video-chat so I can see how well you're doing!
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ANYTIME BONUS!
Now that you're Beethoven experts, see if you can solve the puzzles in this super-cool Beethoven-themed Google Doodle!! Enjoy!
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