6th Grade American Composer Webquest
Aaron Copland & George Gershwin
Welcome
This Webquest is to introduce 6th grade students to 2 American composers:
Aaron Copland and George Gershwin.
Aaron Copland and George Gershwin.
Introduction
Prior to World War I, the musical style of America, like its people, could be described as a melting pot of various folk music. There really wasn't any concert (orchestra, opera, ballet) music being written by Americans. The music they used came from other places in the world, in particular, from Europe & Russia. But there were two American composers who would change the course of American music - and the world! (The picture above is: "The Banjo Lesson," by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1893. Oil on canvas, 49″ × 35½″. Hampton University Museum.)
Task
You are the sheriff of your town who is quite proud of America, your town, and your town's orchestra. However, you are tired of hearing your orchestra playing music written by people from other countries and not from America. You would like for America to have its influence on the classical musical world, so you have decided to use your power as sheriff. You have created wanted posters with rewards for anyone who can capture 2 American musicians who could write excellent classical music for your town's orchestra - and whose music could make an impact on the world.
Process
- Supplies needed: pencils and one or more of the following: crayons, colored pencils, markers.
- You will use the websites listed below to help you gather information. Please use the website links in order as they appear on the screen. You will use the information you gather to make your wanted poster. The information you gather will also be the material for a final test.
- Most of the websites are part of radio shows, so you will have 2 listening guides (one for each composer) to help you narrow the information. Be sure to read through the listening guides carefully first before jumping right in to the websites. And, please feel free to take extra notes as you may discover more information that you may want to use for your poster.
- In a couple of areas on the listening guide, you will be instructed to write and/or draw while you are listening. It is important that have your supplies with you at all times when you come to Music.
- The listening guides will be graded after everyone in the class has completed each section. If you finish early, you may go to the next section.
- Once you have completed all of the sections of the listening guide, then you will take an on-line test. This test must be completed before beginning the work on your wanted poster. You do not have to take it the same day you finish the web quest. It must be completed in class and in 1 class period. You must tell me a day in advance when you are ready to take it so we can have you at a computer away from other students who are still working on their quest.
- Once the test is finished, you may start on your wanted poster. (The grading expectations of this poster is listed under "Evaluation" below.) The poster can be done in whatever format you would like to use (by hand or by use of computer programs). Have fun with this project and make it as creative as you want!
- The poster must be completed by the due date assigned in class. You will present your posters to the class on that date.
YOU ARE NOW ABLE TO BEGIN YOUR QUEST.
HAVE A GREAT TIME EXPLORING AND LEARNING!
HAVE A GREAT TIME EXPLORING AND LEARNING!
AARON COPLAND
Aaron Copland Listening Guide (document)
Please download if you do not already have a hard copy.
Part 1 - Aaron Copland's Biography
Aaron Copland Biography (link)
For this biography, you will need to be sure you have the Aaron Copland Listening Guide worksheet. Please read through all of the questions on the listening guide's "Part 1 - Aaron Copland's Biography" before you start listening. This will help you to know what information you need to listen for ahead of time. Then, click on the above link and answer the questions that you see under "Part 1 - Aaron Copland's Biography". You are able to press "Pause button" to stop and fill in your answers on the worksheet. If you need to back up on the recording, you may click anywhere in the white box where you see "Track #1". When you are finished listening, feel free to take the quiz on the website. Have fun listening and learning!
Part 2 - Fanfare for the Common Man
Fanfare for the Common Man (link)
Discover why this piece was written and answer by listening to the radio broadcast link and answering the questions under Part 2's "History Behind Fanfare for the Common Man" of the Aaron Copland Listening Guide. Again, be sure to read through the questions on the guide before you start listening.
Please download if you do not already have a hard copy.
Part 1 - Aaron Copland's Biography
Aaron Copland Biography (link)
For this biography, you will need to be sure you have the Aaron Copland Listening Guide worksheet. Please read through all of the questions on the listening guide's "Part 1 - Aaron Copland's Biography" before you start listening. This will help you to know what information you need to listen for ahead of time. Then, click on the above link and answer the questions that you see under "Part 1 - Aaron Copland's Biography". You are able to press "Pause button" to stop and fill in your answers on the worksheet. If you need to back up on the recording, you may click anywhere in the white box where you see "Track #1". When you are finished listening, feel free to take the quiz on the website. Have fun listening and learning!
Part 2 - Fanfare for the Common Man
Fanfare for the Common Man (link)
Discover why this piece was written and answer by listening to the radio broadcast link and answering the questions under Part 2's "History Behind Fanfare for the Common Man" of the Aaron Copland Listening Guide. Again, be sure to read through the questions on the guide before you start listening.
Read about how and why Fanfare for the Common Man was written. (link)
Discover what the performers and other artists thought about Copland's fanfare.
Discover what the performers and other artists thought about Copland's fanfare.
Hear a Performance of Fanfare for the Common Man
After you heard the radio broadcast, please listen to the piece by playing the video below. As you listen and watch, please do Part 2's section entitled "Video/Listening of Fanfare for the Common Man". You may click on the "full screen" icon in the bottom right hand corner of the video for larger viewing.
After you heard the radio broadcast, please listen to the piece by playing the video below. As you listen and watch, please do Part 2's section entitled "Video/Listening of Fanfare for the Common Man". You may click on the "full screen" icon in the bottom right hand corner of the video for larger viewing.
Fanfare Instrumentation (link)
After watching the orchestra video, use this link to listen to the radio broadcast to check your answers that you wrote in "Video/Listening of Fanfare for the Common Man".
Part 3 - Copland's Cowboy Ballets
Aaron Copland's Cowboy Ballets (link)
Use this link to answer the questions in the "Introduction" section of "Part 3 - Aaron Copland's Cowboy Ballets". Be sure to read the questions first before listening.
After watching the orchestra video, use this link to listen to the radio broadcast to check your answers that you wrote in "Video/Listening of Fanfare for the Common Man".
Part 3 - Copland's Cowboy Ballets
Aaron Copland's Cowboy Ballets (link)
Use this link to answer the questions in the "Introduction" section of "Part 3 - Aaron Copland's Cowboy Ballets". Be sure to read the questions first before listening.
Hear a performance of Billy the Kid
Please click the video below to listen to Billy the Kid. You will be listening to the music and doing the section "Billy the Kid" in the 3rd part of the listening guide.
Please click the video below to listen to Billy the Kid. You will be listening to the music and doing the section "Billy the Kid" in the 3rd part of the listening guide.
Aaron Copland's Rodeo (link)
Please use the Part 3's "History of Rodeo" for this radio broadcast's link.
Hear a performance of Rodeo
Now your are ready to watch the video below of Rodeo and do the section called "Listening" under "Rodeo" on the listening guide. The video is of the American Ballet Theatre in 1973 performing the first scene from Rodeo. Please use this video to help you understand how music and dance can come together to tell a story. Observe how Agnes de Mille choreographed this particular piece of music. Please notice the interview with Agnes de Mille that is at the end of the clip. If you would like to know more about Agnes de Mille, please use the following link: Agnes de Mille.
Please use the Part 3's "History of Rodeo" for this radio broadcast's link.
Hear a performance of Rodeo
Now your are ready to watch the video below of Rodeo and do the section called "Listening" under "Rodeo" on the listening guide. The video is of the American Ballet Theatre in 1973 performing the first scene from Rodeo. Please use this video to help you understand how music and dance can come together to tell a story. Observe how Agnes de Mille choreographed this particular piece of music. Please notice the interview with Agnes de Mille that is at the end of the clip. If you would like to know more about Agnes de Mille, please use the following link: Agnes de Mille.
Hear a performance of Hoe-Down
Use the video below to help you complete the "Hoe-Down - Listening" section of Part 3.
Use the video below to help you complete the "Hoe-Down - Listening" section of Part 3.
Bonus Material
Aaron Copland Biography (reading link)
This biography has a lot of information that you can use to help you complete your Wanted Poster with actual dates and correct spellings of people and pieces of music. It will also give you titles of other works by Copland that you may be interested in looking up and listening to on your own!
Aaron Copland Biography (reading link)
This biography has a lot of information that you can use to help you complete your Wanted Poster with actual dates and correct spellings of people and pieces of music. It will also give you titles of other works by Copland that you may be interested in looking up and listening to on your own!
GEORGE GERSHWIN
George Gershwin Listening Guide (document)
Please download if you do not already have a hard copy.
Please download if you do not already have a hard copy.
Part 1
George Gershwin Biography (listening link)
For this biography, you will need to be sure you have the George Gershwin Listening Guide worksheet. Please read through all of the questions on the listening guide's "Part 1 - George Gershwin's Biography" before you start listening. This will help you to know what information you need to listen for ahead of time. Then, click on the above link and answer the questions that you see under "Part 1".
George Gershwin Biography 1 (reading link) & George Gershwin Biography 2 (reading link about his death)
Use these 2 links to help you find more answers about George Gershwin's biography.
Part 2 - Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue (link)
Please answer the questions for "History of Rhapsody in Blue" in Part 2 of the listening guide.
Hear a performance of Rhapsody in Blue
www.classicsforkids.com/pastshows.asp?id=108Please use the video link below to listen to Rhapsody in Blue. The pianist is George Gershwin himself! Please follow the instructions of "Video/Listening of Rhapsody in Blue" under Part 2 of the listening guide as you hear the piece.
George Gershwin Biography (listening link)
For this biography, you will need to be sure you have the George Gershwin Listening Guide worksheet. Please read through all of the questions on the listening guide's "Part 1 - George Gershwin's Biography" before you start listening. This will help you to know what information you need to listen for ahead of time. Then, click on the above link and answer the questions that you see under "Part 1".
George Gershwin Biography 1 (reading link) & George Gershwin Biography 2 (reading link about his death)
Use these 2 links to help you find more answers about George Gershwin's biography.
Part 2 - Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue (link)
Please answer the questions for "History of Rhapsody in Blue" in Part 2 of the listening guide.
Hear a performance of Rhapsody in Blue
www.classicsforkids.com/pastshows.asp?id=108Please use the video link below to listen to Rhapsody in Blue. The pianist is George Gershwin himself! Please follow the instructions of "Video/Listening of Rhapsody in Blue" under Part 2 of the listening guide as you hear the piece.
Part 3 - American in Paris
Hear a performance of American in Paris
Please use the Part 3 - "American in Paris" portion of the listening guide as you use the video below.
Hear a performance of American in Paris
Please use the Part 3 - "American in Paris" portion of the listening guide as you use the video below.
Photo Gallery
You are now able to use the information you found on the webquest to take the test and then begin your wanted posters!
Evaluation
You will be graded on 3 things: Wanted Posters, Listening Guides and a Test.
The Wanted Posters will be presented to the class and must contain the following information:
The Listening Guides will be graded as you and the class go. You will be graded on the different activities that are on the listening guides. The points per section are listed next to the instructions on the listening guides. You will also use the guides as a study guide for the test.
The Test:
The Wanted Posters will be presented to the class and must contain the following information:
- Two-sided "poster": one side for Copland and the other side for Gershwin. You may use any format of your choosing.
- 10 facts for each composer that you discovered about them and their music.
- 5 of your own opinions about the composer and his music.
- Explanation of 5 musical elements - that could be included in your opinions. They do not all have to come from one piece of music.
- Picture of the composer.
- Creativity - you may use a computer or your own hand to make the posters.
The Listening Guides will be graded as you and the class go. You will be graded on the different activities that are on the listening guides. The points per section are listed next to the instructions on the listening guides. You will also use the guides as a study guide for the test.
The Test:
- Can be done on your own time, but it must be completed before beginning the work on your wanted poster.
- Does not have to taken the same day you finish the WebQuest.
- Must be completed in class and in 1 class period.
- Must be told to me a day in advance that you are ready to take it. The day you take the test you will receive a access code that allows you entry to the test. You may not use any of the listening guides or notes you have taken - closed book test.
Final Test
Conclusion
Congratulations!
You have captured 2 great American composers who will change the music of your town - and of America!
I hope you have enjoyed your web quest and learning about these 2 amazing American composers. I hope you have an appreciation of what they have done to further American classical music and are inspired to listen to more of their compositions.
I hope you have enjoyed your web quest and learning about these 2 amazing American composers. I hope you have an appreciation of what they have done to further American classical music and are inspired to listen to more of their compositions.