Waltzing with Ms. VP

I'd like to say I'm always on a classical music kick (I am a harpist after all!) but this month I have spent more time than usual having the kids practice truly listening. I always start out my classes with the "start music" where the students have to listen and analyze a selection, but our discussions are usually limited to under ten minutes. This month I'm turning then into lessons.

The Waltz

Piece Selection:

• Johann Strauss - “Vienna Blood” Waltz (Op. 354)

1. Began class with listening to Strauss Waltz.
1. How did that make you feel?
2. What type of ensemble was that? (orchestra)
3. What Musical Family was used the most? (Strings)
4. What was the Time Signature of that piece? (3/4)
2. Time signature, this is where they get stuck: What is a time signature??
1. You know how we talked about the conductor last week, let's review-what does a conductor do again? ( keep the beat and guide the ensemble through the music) Exactly, how does the conductor know what the beat is or how many beats or in each measure? (through the time signature) So if it's in 3/4 time, how many beats are in that measure? (3..)
3. I count through the Waltz beat, emphasizing the one beat.  ONE, two, three, ONE, two, three...which is the strongest beat? ( they always, without fail, say THREE.) I dialog about the ONE beat.
4. Add some kinesthetic movement, have them step out on ONE and in place on two, three. Eventually I teach them the basic waltz. I show them the following picture:

We discuss: Movement, posture, positioning, costumes, etc.

5.   Directly following this discussion I have them listen to the Strauss BIO (Another Classics for Kids radio excerpt) and ask the following Questions:

1. Johann Strauss was Born in ________ in ________? (1825, Vienna.) Follow-up Q: Does that make him an American Composer? (No) What Continent is Vienna located on? (Europe) <-- Geography cross-connection
2. What did his Dad do for a living? (Composer/Musician) What did he play? (Violin)
3. His Dad wanted him to become a _______ when he grew up? (Banker)
4. He secretly became a musician and composer with support from who? (his mother)
5. He ended up completing with who? (his father) Who was better? (Strauss Jr)
6. He wrote a song with words that was a complete flop, what was that song about? (Electric lights.)
7. He composed pieces for every _______ that he visited (city)
8. The Emperor's Waltz celebrated Vienna's Emperor's what? (birthday_
9. He composed how many Operettas? (16)
10. What is the name of the operetta that is performed every year on New Years Eve in Vienna? (The Bat)
11. Johann Strauss is known as the...? (Waltz King)

I Showed them, the following picture:

And that wrapped up our discussion.

Time: 35 mins.
Reviewed our vocal pieces.