Saturday, September 25, 2021

Dragon Classical Music

Even though right now I'm teaching Form Drawing, Botany, Physics (Sound, Light, Heat, Magnets, Electricity) and Physics (Simple Machines), plus working with four tutoring clients each week, the number one thing on my mind right now is lesson planning for Music. Because I've never taught it before, it is getting the most hours of prep time. So I think I'll be posting a lot about Music while I wrap my mind about what I want to cover, how I want to pace it, and exactly which resources I want to use.

Michaelmas is Wednesday and I'm really excited about our Dragon Party! I have a lot of cool stuff planned. We've been working on memorizing a dragon poem so we will recite that, as well as read the rest of the poems in the book. I want to (finally) make the conker dragon from All Year Round, and Zac and I went and collected chestnuts today. So wish me luck with that!

We will have vanilla ice cream, which goes with the poem we learned. We will read Saint George and the Dragon, and build an enormous castle wall of foam bricks and act out the story. Happily, I have a dragon cloak; a king crown; and a knight breastplate, helmet, sword belt, and sword. Lastly, I'd like us to plant snowdrops so that they will come up at Candlemas!

Since my plan was to read The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin on Wednesday for Music class, I'd particularly love to find a piece of Dragon classical music which we can listen to while we eat lunch! And I found a very interesting Dragon Classical Music? thread. Here are some of its suggestions:


"Naki-Ryu"
Malika Kishino
solo oboe
Flutter echoes and Dragon in clouds
“Naki-Ryu” literally translates from Japanese into “Roaring Dragon”


"Siegfried"
Richard Wagner
opera - this is the third opera in the Ring Cycle
Fafner is the name of the dragon; he is slain in Act 2 Scene 2


"The Magic Flute"
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
opera
unnamed dragon; he is slain in Act 1 Scene 1 “Oh help me!” [Dragon scene]


"Las Cuevas del Dragon" or "The Lairs of the Dragon"
Joaquin Turina
solo piano


"Chinese Dragons"
Nancy Faber
one piano, four hands (student piece)


"Ballet Music"
from "Hàry Jànos"
Zoltán Kodály
opera

The "Ballet Music" was originally a part of the opera "Hàry Jànos" and was performed under the title "Dragon Dance" in Hary's fourth adventure, "The End of World," on October 16, 1926 in the Hungarian Opera.... Kodály [later] renamed the "Dragon Dance" "Ballet Music," not wanting its title "to preserve the dragons; why, others, too, can dance like dragons."

excerpted from a 1978 doctoral thesis THE INFLUENCE OF FRENCH IMPRESSIONISM AND THE ESSENCE OF THE HUNGARIAN NATIONAL CHARACTER IN ZOLTAN KODALY'S PIANO MUSIC


"Cadmus et Hermione"
Jean-Baptiste Lully
opera
unnamed dragon; he is slain in Act 4 Scene 2


"The Dragon of Wantley"
Johan Friedrich Lampe
opera


"The Banner of St. George"
Edward Elgar
orchestra and chorus


It's exciting to have so many options!

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Thursday, September 23, 2021

The Percussion Family

Notes and resources for the Percussion Instruments:

first attic room - Drums, Timpani

second attic room - Vibraphone, Gong, Chimes

front entrance - Grand Piano

turret - Harp



Instrument Families Exploration
Carnegie Hall

    free downloadable PDFs for:
    Instrument Family Portraits
    Instrument Family Sounds
    The Orchestra Map

    A House Filled with Music follows the order of the Orchestra Map

    The Carnegie Hall website also includes lots of other activities!
    Very highly recommended!



At last! The introduction of the piano means that we can now explore Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saëns!

The suite is scored for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute (and piccolo), clarinet, glass harmonica, and xylophone.

There are fourteen movements, each representing a different animal or animals:

1. Introduction and Royal March of the Lion (strings, two pianos)

2. Hens & Cockerels (two violins, viola, two pianos, clarinet)

3. Wild Asses (two pianos)

4. Tortoises (strings, piano)

5. The Elephant (double bass, piano)

6. Kangaroos (two pianos)

7. Aquarium (two violins, viola, cello, two pianos, flute, glass harmonica)

8. Persons with Long Ears (two violins)

9. The Cuckoo in the Depths of the Woods (two pianos, clarinet)

10. Aviary (strings, two pianos, flute)

11. Pianists (strings, two pianos)

12. Fossils (strings, two pianos, clarinet, xylophone)

13. The Swan (two pianos, cello)

14. Finale (full ensemble)


After concluding all four families, we are also now ready for Can You Hear It? by William Lach.

Nice pictures of musical instruments to introduce the book:

Violin, Viola d'amore, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar

Clarinet, Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone

Trumpet, French Horn, Euphonium, Trombone

Castanets, Snare Drum, Piano


Track 1 - "The Flight of the Bumblebee"
Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov

    paired with
    Chrysanthemums


Track 2 - "The Four Seasons: Winter (Allegro)"
Antonio Vivaldi

    paired with
    A Winter Landscape with Skaters and a Bird Trap


Track 3 - "An American in Paris" excerpt
George Gershwin

    paired with
    Avenue du Bois


Track 4 - "The Carnival of the Animals: The Aquarium"
Camille Saint-Saëns

    paired with
    Ocean Life


Track 5 - "Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights" excerpt
Sergey Prokofiev

    paired with
    Tournament Book


Track 6 - "The Nutcracker: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"
Pyotr Illich Tchaikovsky

    paired with
    The Christmas Tree


Track 7 - "The Four Seasons: Spring (Allegro)"
Antonio Vivaldi

    paired with
    Mountain Torrent


Track 8 - "The Carnival of the Animals: Fossils"
Camille Saint-Saëns

    paired with
    The Calavera of Cupid


Track 9 - "Comic Duet for Two Cats"
attrib. Gioachino Rossini

    paired with
    My Little White Kitties into Mischief


Track 10 - "The Carnival of the Animals: The Elephant"
Camille Saint-Saëns

    paired with
    Prince Riding on an Elephant


Track 11 - "Billy the Kid: Gun Battle"
Aarom Copland

    paired with
    On the Southern Plains


Track 12 - "The Four Seasons: Summer (Presto)"
Antonio Vivaldi

    paired with
    View from Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts,
    After a Thunderstorm - The Oxbow


Track 13 - "The Carnival of the Animals: Finale"
Camille Saint-Saëns

    paired with
    Circus Sideshow


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The Brass Family

Notes and resources for the Brass Instruments:

mother - Tuba

son - Trombone

son - French Horn

son - Trumpet



Instrument Families Exploration
Carnegie Hall

    free downloadable PDFs for:
    Instrument Family Portraits
    Instrument Family Sounds
    The Orchestra Map

    A House Filled with Music follows the order of the Orchestra Map

    The Carnegie Hall website also includes lots of other activities!
    Very highly recommended!



A lovely piece of music to introduce at this point is Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee." The original instruments included in the piece were 2 tubas, 3 trombones, 3 trumpets, 4 horns and contrabassoons, 2 bassoons, 3 clarinets, 2 oboes, 2 flutes, an English horn, a piccolo, and the strings (double bass, cello, viola, violin).


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The Woodwind Family

Notes and resources for the Woodwind Instruments:

mother - Clarinet

father - Oboe

son - Flute

grandfather - Bassoon



Instrument Families Exploration
Carnegie Hall

    free downloadable PDFs for:
    Instrument Family Portraits
    Instrument Family Sounds
    The Orchestra Map

    A House Filled with Music follows the order of the Orchestra Map

    The Carnegie Hall website also includes lots of other activities!
    Very highly recommended!




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The String Family

Before we get into any of this, we would first read A House Filled with Music by Margret Rettich and The Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Karla Kuskin.


Notes and resources for the String Instruments:

father - Double Bass

mother - Cello

daughter - Violin

daughter - Viola



Instrument Families Exploration
Carnegie Hall

    free downloadable PDFs for:
    Instrument Family Portraits
    Instrument Family Sounds
    The Orchestra Map

    A House Filled with Music follows the order of the Orchestra Map

    The Carnegie Hall website also includes lots of other activities!
    Very highly recommended!



This family is the perfect time to introduce Peter and the Wolf!

Peter - the string family
bird - flute
duck - oboe
cat - clarinet
wolf - French horn
grandfather - bassoon
hunters - timpani



Peter and the Wolf
narrated by David Bowie


Peter and the Wolf
by Sergei Prokofiev, translated by Maria Carlson


Peter and the Wolf
The Royal Ballet School


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Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Music - Instrument Families

I absolutely LOVE A House Filled with Music by Margret and Rolf Rettich.


This year Zac and Kamma and I are beginning our Music class with an exploration of the instrument families and learning how to recognize some of the most common instruments, by sight and by sound.

Here is the order of instruments as presented in the book:


String Family

father - Double Bass

mother - Cello

daughter - Violin

daughter - Viola


Woodwind Family

mother - Clarinet

father - Oboe

son - Flute

grandfather - Bassoon


Brass Family

mother - Tuba

son - Trombone

son - French Horn

son - Trumpet


Percussion Family

first attic room - Drums, Timpani

second attic room - Vibraphone, Gong, Chimes

front entrance - Grand Piano

turret - Harp


And, of course, the man who bought the house turns out to be the conductor! We first listened to the story on CD, so that the children could try to imagine what instrument might make each sound.

Next we will look at pictures of each and focus on recognizing them, so I'm off to look for high quality pictures that I can use to make three part cards! I have some picture books as well, and then I'll need a list of musical pieces that we can use to go deeply into each instrument. Suggestions welcome!


UPDATE:

Montessori Print Shop on TpT has three part cards already made up for many musical instruments! I am going to go ahead and get them; although they are not a perfect fit for the story, they are excellent. And the instruments which the story didn't include will allow us to talk about what else might be in each family.

Here is the list. Each PDF file is $2.50.

Types of Musical Instruments: Set 1

    trumpet

    trombone

    saxophone

    french horn

    tuba

    violin

    cello

    guitar

    harp

    xylophone

    glockenspiel

    marimba

    timpani

    snare drum

    bass

    triangle

    castanets

    maracas

    piano

    clarinet

    flute

    bassoon

    tambourine


Types of Musical Instruments: Set 2

    oboe

    harpsichord

    organ

    electric guitar

    bagpipes

    double bass

    bass drum

    concert toms

    cymbals

    piccolo

    contrabassoon

    accordion

    lute

    harmonica

    pipe organ

    sousaphone

    banjo

    cornet

    bar chimes

    celesta


I wonder if it would be possible to make requests? I'd love to have baritone and recorder, as well as the other instruments in the book we read today (viola, vibraphone, gong), and the other instruments included in the book of musical folktales from around the world (pipe, singing drum, lyre, tiktiri, didgeridoo, balalaika). Oh, and some of the instruments we have in our classroom too (teardrop lap dulcimer, frog rasp, cactus rainstick, cow bell).


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Sunday, September 19, 2021

A Homeschool Year on the Road

When I started homeschooling (16 years ago), one of things I was sure we would do was spend a lot of time on the road, traveling across the U.S. I envisioned seeing the Grand Canyon, and having the daily Math work be calculating how many miles we had traveled and how much we had spent. Etc.

Now being home all of the time because of COVID is putting that dream back into my mind.

Making the book list for Jazz -- and thinking of how much fun it would be to visit New Orleans and see Mardi Gras -- made me think of it too.

Also, starting Zac in first grade at the age of 6 means that we potentially have an extra year to fill so that his 3rd grade main lesson blocks will fall when he is 9, as they should. I have friends in Alaska and Hawaii, and so it seems at least mildly doable that we could visit all 50 states. Would we take a year of school to do that, or spread the travel around over several years?

Who knows at this point! COVID makes you realize you have to live in the moment.

But I do want to transition from dreaming to planning, so I want to have a blog post where I can make notes (as we read books or do other activities) of what I'd most like to see in each state. For the next few years, I can add to the list. At some time, when we travel, I'll have all my notes in one place!

Of course, as always, I welcome suggestions. What are the must-see places in the U.S.? And if anyone knows of a blogger who has written about homeschooling on the road, please share the link!

I used to have a goal of getting my PhD before I turned 50. Now I think it's going to be to visit all 50 states before I turn 50 (which gives me 5 years).


For lack of a better plan, I'm going to list the states in alphabetical order. Of course there are a few territories that aren't that far away. It would also be fantastic to visit some tribal lands. My first job out of college was teaching at St. Bonaventure Mission on the Navajo Reservation and I'd love to take Zac!


Last updated: September 25, 2021

1. Alabama


2. Alaska

    Northern Lights
    Fairbanks AK (in March, ideally)


3. Arizona


4. Arkansas


5. California


6. Colorado


7. Connecticut


8. Delaware


9. Florida

    Key West FL


10. Georgia


11. Hawaii


12. Idaho


13. Illinois


14. Indiana


15. Iowa


16. Kansas


17. Kentucky


18. Louisiana

    Mardi Gras
    New Orleans LA (Feb 21, 2023)


    The 5 O'Clock Band
    by Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews


19. Maine


20. Maryland


21. Massachusetts


22. Michigan


23. Minnesota


24. Mississippi

    Biloxi MS


25. Missouri


26. Montana


27. Nebraska


28. Nevada


29. New Hampshire


30. New Jersey


31. New Mexico


32. New York


33. North Carolina


34. North Dakota


35. Ohio


36. Oklahoma


37. Oregon


38. Pennsylvania


39. Rhode Island


40. South Carolina


41. South Dakota


42. Tennessee


43. Texas


44. Utah


45. Vermont


46. Virginia


47. Washington

    Mount St. Helens Visitor Center
    Turnwater WA

    I have a vintage postcard of the mountain which shows it many years before the eruption; it would be so amazing to see the before & after!


48. West Virginia


49. Wisconsin


50. Wyoming


Washington, District of Columbia


Puerto Rico


U.S. Virgin Islands


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