In just over a week, the third graders will actually get to go and see the Nutcracker! I will be accompanying the students, teachers, and chaperons on this trip and I am super excited!! I have been to the Nutcracker a few times in my life and I am thrilled that these students will get the opportunity to see it too!
We have been learning about the Nutcracker to prepare for our trip! Students have read the story and learned about the composer, the person who writes the music. Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer who lived in the 1800's. He wrote the music, not the story, for the Nutcracker, which wasn't initially a success. He also wrote two other ballets, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, along with some of his other famous works.
We listened to a piece called "Russian Dance" which is a popular piece from the suite. Students followed along with a listening map and learned about accents in music. An accent looks like this < which means it is louder and more emphasized. Students were very excited when they got to use the parachute on those accents. They even got to stand under the parachute!
We also listened to another very commonly heard piece, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Students took a breather from the parachute while listening to this piece and saying the rhythms along with it.
Ask your student about the Nutcracker story, or Tchaikovsky. See what they remember!
Check out these websites for more information about The Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky.
http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showdesc.asp?id=93
http://www.bostonballet.org/just-for-kids.html
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
We have been learning about the Nutcracker to prepare for our trip! Students have read the story and learned about the composer, the person who writes the music. Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer who lived in the 1800's. He wrote the music, not the story, for the Nutcracker, which wasn't initially a success. He also wrote two other ballets, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty, along with some of his other famous works.
We listened to a piece called "Russian Dance" which is a popular piece from the suite. Students followed along with a listening map and learned about accents in music. An accent looks like this < which means it is louder and more emphasized. Students were very excited when they got to use the parachute on those accents. They even got to stand under the parachute!
We also listened to another very commonly heard piece, "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy." Students took a breather from the parachute while listening to this piece and saying the rhythms along with it.
Ask your student about the Nutcracker story, or Tchaikovsky. See what they remember!
Check out these websites for more information about The Nutcracker and Tchaikovsky.
http://www.classicsforkids.com/shows/showdesc.asp?id=93
http://www.bostonballet.org/just-for-kids.html
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!