AUTHOR CONNECTIONS:
Fired
when she was a teenager from her library job for "reading too much, "Kathleen
Krull went on to become a highly successful children's book editor, reviewer,
and author. Her curiosity about subjects that passionately interest her-music,
people, nightmares, and American history are just a few-led her to create the
"Lives of" books, as well as other notable children's books. Do you know
the following tidbit about Kathleen Krull?: She married her next-door neighbor
and they presently live in San Diego, California. Krull may be reached by e-mail
at kkrull1@san.rr.com or visit
her website kathleenkrull.com
MUSICIANS INCLUDED:
Vivaldi  Bach Mozart Beethoven Chopin Verdi Schumann Foster Brahms Tchaikovsky Gilbert & Sullivan Satie Joplin Ives Stravinsky Boulanger Prokofiev Gershwin Guthrie
CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS:
 Celebrate
a "Musical Composers Day" by having the class host an exhibit for the entire school
to attend. Assign students individual composers who collectively represent all
six specific eras of music: Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic,
and Twentieth Century. Using three-sided display boards, students will make exhibit
"booths," which will offer patrons information about all composers presented.
Students will also be responsible for creating brochures for dissemination; brochures
will contain brief, biographical information, lists of most important musical
works, and explanations of musical terms necessary for processing knowledge of
each specific composer. If possible, each "booth" will have audio equipment such
as cassette or CD players and headphones, so that participants may listen to actual
musical excerpts. Invite the local newspaper to cover the spectacular event.
Have
students listen to a musical recording-enlist the aid of the music teacher to
obtain a cassette or CD-of Vivaldi's "Four Seasons." Students will choose their
favorite musical concerto; then, working cooperatively in four small groups, they
will create one of four "Seasonal Wall Murals" that celebrate Fall, Winter, Spring,
and Summer. Encourage groups to capture in images what they hear in Vivaldi's
musical narration; suggest that the groups use a variety of media when making
their masterpieces. Display the four murals in a prominent location for others
to appreciate.
Many
of the personages celebrated in LIVES OF THE MUSICIANS were child prodigies. What
exactly is a child prodigy and what attributes do these gifted youngsters have
in common with each other? To answer the question, have students research some
of today's most notable musicians-classical and otherwise-to discover if they
were remarkably talented at an extremely young age. Yo Yo Ma, Charlotte Church,
Stevie Wonder, Itzhak Perlman, and Celine Dion are five names with which to begin.
Create a classroom bulletin board to showcase the class's findings.
For
a whole lot of sheer fun and entertainment, and a little bit of education, try
the following activity: Working in small groups, have students play familiar songs
using six glass juice bottles, each filled with a varying amount of water. See
the invaluable Web site for this exercise listed below. These pages provide thorough
directions, and offer the "music" for a handful of well-known songs, which include
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" and "This Old Man." Students may be inspired to figure
out the musical notes to other familiar songs. Perform a medley of melodies for
younger grades to hear.
If
you didn't have enough fun with the previous activity, try this: Students will
make their own musical instruments using project instructions available on an
absolutely terrific Web site of the New York Philharmonic (see URL listed below).
Wacky, zany, and cacophonous, these instruments bear such names as flazoots, strawmbones,
and styrocellos. Practice for an unforgettable concert performance in which audience
members are given earplugs when they arrive!
INTERNET CONNECTIONS:
 LHS
Mostly Music: Juice Bottle Jingles
http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/shockwave/jar.html
This delightfully fun site offers precise directions for creating music from
water-filled glass juice bottles. Pages include music for four songs to play,
as well as "variations on a theme," ideas for altering the sounds the juices bottles
produce. Impressive site created by the University of California at Berkeley.
Come Play with Us!
http://www.playmusic.org/
One of the best Web
sites for its kid-friendly interactive format and for the knowledge it imparts.
Users will learn about the various symphonic instruments and the sounds they make.
The American Symphony Orchestra League and the Parsons School of Design have collaborated
to create a gem of a resource.
Mozart's
Magical Musical Life
http://www.stringsinthemountains.org/m2m/1once.htm
This multimedia storybook will engage nascent musicians who want to learn
more about the life and work of this famous Austrian composer. The site has been
hailed as noteworthy for families.
FOR
FURTHER LISTENING AND READING:
  BEETHOVEN
LIVES UPSTAIRS features over thirty excerpts from this maestro's repertoire, and
shares an intriguing correspondence between a young boy in Vienna and his musician
uncle. From Classical Kids, the epistolary text and musical recordings combine
to impart the life story of one of the world's greatest composers; narrative and
notes will entertain listeners of all ages. UNABRIDGED AUDIO CASSETTE and CD,
and Hardcover Book available from Audio Bookshelf.
Clara
Schumann: Piano Virtuoso (Clarion Books, 1999) by Susanna Reich
HALLELUJAH
HANDEL presents storytelling, music, and music history in one attractive and engaging
package for all listeners. This Classical Kids audio features over thirty excerpts
of music composed by Handel, the Baroque genius best known for his "Messiah." UNABRIDGED AUDIO CASSETTE and CD available from Audio Bookshelf.
Sebastian:
A Book About Bach (Harcourt Brace & Company, 1999) by Jeanette Winter
This
Land Is Your Land (Little, Brown and Company, 1998); Words and Music by Woody
Guthrie; Paintings by Kathy Jakobsen
Zin!
Zin! Zin! a Violin (Simon & Schuster, 1995) by Lloyd Moss; Illustrated by
Marjorie Priceman
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