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 some 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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Files to Download:
Overview
Introduction for teachers, 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. (637 KB)
Bach Lesson
Biography of Johann Sebastian Bach and Lesson Plan for "Ricercare" from Musical Offering. (310.0 KB)
Debussy Lesson
Biography of Claude Debussy and Lesson Plans for Danse and "Le Matin d'un jour de fête." (579 KB)
Grofé Lesson
Biography of Ferde Grofé and Lesson Plan for "On the Trail" from Grand Canyon Suite. (413 KB)
Mussorgsky Lesson
Biography of Modest Mussorgsky and Lesson Plan for "Promenade" from Pictures at an Exhibition. (1.65 MB)
Schoenberg Lesson
Biography of Arnold Schoenberg and Lesson Plan for Three Pieces for chamber orchestra, movements 1 & 2. (207.7 KB)
Schubert Lesson
Biography of Franz Schubert and Lesson Plan for Symphony No. 8, "Unfinished." (167 KB)
Smetana Lesson
Biography of Bedrich Smetana, Lesson Plan for "The Moldau" and Social Studies Lesson Plan for "The Moldau." (311.9 KB)
Tchaikovsky Lesson
Biography of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Lesson Plan for Swan Lake. (190.9 KB)
English Language Arts Lesson
ELA Lesson Plan focusing on Artists and Composers. (97.8 KB)
