Below are lesson plans with brief composer biographies that are designed to help you prepare your students for the RPO’s Intermediate Concerts. Included in most lessons is a website address that will help you find out more about a specific topic. Every effort has been made to ensure that these listings are accurate and appropriate for children. We hope that the guide and preparatory CD will be useful to both music and classroom teachers alike. Feel free to adapt or change the activities to suit the needs and abilities of your students.
Before the concert, please review the overview which includes concert manners, the history of the Eastman Theatre and background information on conductor Michael Butterman and Eastman Theatre founder George Eastman. This will help your students enjoy the concert more on their special day.
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Overview (539 KB)
Read the introduction for teachers and table of contents, meet your conductor, learn to conduct, learn more about the orchestra, meet George Eastman and get ready to attend a concert by learning about concert manners.
Elements of a Story (369 KB)
English Language Arts lesson plans on writing a story, including a story map and more ideas.
Villa-Lobos Lesson (688 KB)
Biography for Heitor Villa-Lobos and lesson plan for "The Little Train of Caipira."
Rimsky-Korsakov Lesson (241 KB)
Biography for Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov and lesson plan for "The Sea and Sinbad's Ship" from Scheherazade.
Rossini Lesson (287 KB)
Biography for Giocchino Rossini and lesson plan for Overture to William Tell.
Bernstein Lesson (301 KB)
Biography for Leonard Bernstein and lesson plan for "Mambo" from West Side Story.
Saint-Saëns Lesson (1,091 KB)
Biography for Camille Saint-Saëns and lesson plan for Danse Macabre.
Berlioz Lesson (1,308 KB)
Biography for Hector Berlioz and lesson plan for Symphonie Fantastique.
Additional Activities (333 KB)
Learn about the Romantic Period and play the Composer Match-Up game.
