6/2/2021 0 Comments "Little Chopin" story timeThis book is a publication on the Polish market, written by Michal Rusinek. It tells the story of how Little Frycek became a great composer. The text was illustrated in a modern style by Joanna Rusinek. The book is in both Polish and English. In this video you can hear me read the story while listening to Chopin's wonderful piano compositions in the background. This is a cute little story, definitely worth having in your classroom!
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6/2/2021 0 Comments "Tuby the Tuba" story timeFor sixty years audiences have been charmed by the adventures of a tuba named Tubby. All day long, Tubby plays oompah, oompah with his orchestra, but what he really wants is to "dance with the pretty little tune." A resourceful bullfrog shows Tubby that everyone has the right to play his own melody. When the recording of Tubby the Tuba was first released, it met with instant success, and it went on to sell 13 million copies. Now these classic characters have been reimagined by Henry Cole in this stunning picture book, which comes complete with a CD of the author's performance with full orchestration. This is a musical and visual treat for a whole new generation to enjoy the world's most famous tuba.
Diane Goode's beautiful and adventurous classic tale will dance its way into your students' holiday stories for years to come. In this video you can hear me read this timeless classic, as the music of the Nutcracker is played in the background. It is definitely a must-have during the holiday season in my classroom.
This lyrical journey through the orchestra begins with animal musicians slowly gathering for the evening performance. Poetic descriptions suggest the sounds of the instruments, and lively watercolor illustrations capture the playful essence of each musician and musical instrument. This is a great introduction to classical music, and a must prior to a first visit to the symphony.
6/2/2021 0 Comments "Trombone Shorty" story time“Who’s that playing out there?” Bo Diddley asked the New Orleans crowd. It was a small child who’d been nicknamed “Trombone Shorty” because his trombone was twice as large as he was. Trombone Shorty was lifted in the air and carried through the audience until he reached the stage with Bo Diddley. He has been onstage ever since.
The main character of the story - Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews didn’t always have the money to buy an instrument, but he did have the dream to play music. This is the story of how he made his dream take flight. Today, Troy Andrews is a Grammy-nominated musician who tours the world with his band, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. He continues to inspire hope for the next generation in New Orleans and for music lovers everywhere. When his friend Victor suddenly dies, composer Modest Mussorgsky is deeply saddened. But, with the help of his friends, and through his own music, Modest finds a way to keep Victor's spirit alive.
Your students will most definitely enjoy the inspirational story behind the composition of Pictures at an Exhibition. Bright, colorful illustrations incorporate elements of Russian folk art and traditional symbols. George Gershwin only has a few weeks to compose a concerto. His piece was supposed to exemplify American music and be premiered at a concert entitled "An Experiment in Modern Music." Homesick for New York while rehearsing for a musical in Boston, Gershwin soon realizes that American music is much like its people, a great melting pot of sounds, rhythms, and harmonies. This book includes a CD of "Rhapsody in Blue" performed by George Gershwin (1925 piano roll) and the Columbia Jazz Band, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas. An awesome read, and a must-have in your Music classroom.
This is a story about Ludwig Van Beethoven. As the best pianist in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven had everything: talent, money, fame. But he also had a terrible secret. He was slowly going deaf. Though his hearing deserted him, the maestro never lost his music. Seeking inspiration for his compositions, Beethoven was mesmerized by Napoleon Bonaparte, who at that time was considered a liberator and a folk hero. Soon after Beethoven completed the work, Napoleon declared himself Emperor of France. Feeling betrayed and enraged, Beethoven tore his copy of the score to pieces. But his friend Ferdinand rescued a copy, and in time, Beethoven renamed it Eroica: the Heroic Symphony, dedicated to hero in each and every one of us. Watch, listen and enjoy this marvelous story.
Anna Harwell Celenza's "The Farewell Symphony" is a story behind Franz Joseph Haydn's famous symphony. The story brings to life a long summer spent at Esterháza, the summer palace of Prince Nicholas of Esterházy. Haydn was kept very busy writing and performing music for parties, balls, dinners, and even walks in the gardens. His orchestra members became homesick and missed their families. The anger, frustration, and longing of the musicians is expressed beautifully in the symphony born of the clever mind of Joseph Haydn who used it to convince Prince Nicholas that it was time to go home.
Johann Sebastian Bach created some of the most significant music in history, including A Keyboard Practice Consisting of an Aria with Thirty Variations for the Harpsichord—commonly known as the Goldberg Variations. Goldberg was Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, a young musician in the court of Count Keyserlingk, a Russian ambassador living in Dresden. It isn’t known for certain why Bach’s difficult composition was named for the young man, but Anna Harwell Celenza gives us one possible story based on extensive research. This is a great read and yet, another must-have in your classroom.
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