Klarinet Archive - Posting 000648.txt from 2002/09

From: Audrey Travis <vsofan@-----.ca>
Subj: [kl] Teaching kids to love classical music (was 'Other versions' of
Date: Mon, 30 Sep 2002 11:29:48 -0400

Anne Lenoir wrote:
I know that you guys would have a cow if you heard
> my 2nd grade flutaphone class playing "Ode To Joy". To my knowledge not
> many composers have written for the flutaphone, and I like to teach the
> students beautiful melodies as a part of their early musical education.
>
> However, I will probably continue to teach my students many "wrong" melodies,
starting with the flutaphone.
ANNIE
>
>Annie, I most definitely agree with your approach. My band students
also learn some classical pieces and they usually love them, especially
"Ode to Joy". We've also done transcriptions of themes from Dvorak's
9th Symphony, Brahms' 1st Symphony, Beethoven's 7th Symphony, Bizet's
L'Arlessiene Suite, Mozart's 40th Symphony, Handel's Fireworks Suite and
many others. Part of my program is also to get them to hear our
symphony. I try to pick concerts where their instruments are featured
prominently or where they can easily relate to and enjoy the music.
They need to hear very fine musicians playing their instruments to get a
'sound' in their heads to aim for themselves. Kids are often amazed to
find out that many of the musicians on stage started playing when they
were the same age as my students are now. I also try to get the
symphony's Musical Director to speak to the kids before the concert.
Kids get to have a pizza dinner, dress up and hear a wonderful adult
concert.. They usually love it.

At this age (10-12) kids love discovering the exciting parts of
classical music and being a little part of that world. My hope is that
it sets them up for a lifelong exploration of this classical heritage,
both as players and listeners.

So Annie, keep on teaching those lucky students of yours those 'wrong'
melodies - they'll thank you for it later on.

Audrey
>

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