Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra 2011

Yesterday, we loaded TEN school buses with 440 fourth/fifth graders, teachers and chaperones and headed downtown to the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts where we experienced a "live" orchestral concert by our very own Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.  The concert was underwritten by Target and Duval County Public Schools provided bus transportation for our students.  This concert is a gift; it costs us absolutely nothing.  This "live performance" experience aligns with their curriculum and addresses several of the elementary music standards I am required to teach.

The program was entitled, "American Salute" and included patriotic favorites as well as music written by American composers including Bernstein, Joplin, Sousa, Copland, Gould, Grofe and John Williams.  We celebrated our flag by singing "The Star Spangled Banner," joined the orchestra in a patriotic sing-along and ended the concert by listening to John Williams' "March from Superman."  It was an exciting, engaging and interactive concert for my students and the teachers enjoyed it too!!

To adequately prepare the students for the performance, I taught a lesson which included a guided listening experience, a review of appropriate audience behaviors, a discussion related to the jobs of the concertmaster, the conductor, the performer, etc. and a writing assignment that required each student to fill-in the correct instruments on the orchestra's seating diagram.  I delivered this instruction nineteen times in preparation for our field study.

  Away we go...

On the bus...

Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts

I am very grateful for this opportunity each time it rolls around.  It isn't every day that kids get to dress up, drive downtown and listen to quality music in an acoustic setting performed by outstanding professional musicians.  It is truly a gift.

Until next time...

1 comment:

Chascinc said...

I was so proud of our students. The performance opened with the National Anthem. Everyone stood immediately and sang along. It was so cute seeing the kids conducting along with the performance. I enjoyed the music, especially the western themed arrangements. The concert ended with John Williams' Superman. How cool! Do you think they knew about our theme?