The students will learn some characteristics of classical music from different time periods through listening to selections from different composers and guided classroom instruction.  We will discuss where we might hear the selected music. Students will be given strategies and vocabulary to describe and recognize different pieces and genres of music.  Class schedule and possible topics of discussion include:

Week 1- Bach- Baroque music-Toccata and Fugue- scary music- may be heard around Halloween- organ
                         Minuets- dances- piano and harpsichord

Week 2- Handel- Baroque Music- Messiah- heard about Christmas, oratorio, stories about early performances
                             Water music- why do you think this was written?

Week 3- Mozart- Classical music- prodigy, piano, orchestra  Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, his piano music, Symphony Number 40

Week 4- Haydn- Classical music- Symphony 90- Why was it written,

Week 5 Beethoven- Romantic Music- Overcoming obstacles Symphony No. 5 and 9

Week 6 Tchaikovsky- Romantic Music- Ballet- Nutcracker, 1812 Overture- listen for pieces of other songs in the overture, where have you heard it before?

Week 7- Gershwin- 20th Century- American composer, influence of jazz in classical music, Rhapsody in Blue, Summertime- include recent covers

Week 8- John Williams- contemporary- classical music today, music in movies

I hold a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Florida State University.  After graduation, I taught middle school music and band in the public schools of Jacksonville, FL.  After reading a request for a similar class, I realized that I had already developed this class for a school setting.  I love these lessons and I love teaching students about these familiar composers.  It is so exciting to see students learn more about music that they have already heard and then discover new music by the same composers.  I can't wait to share this beautiful music with your children!