This month in both grades we are taking time to study Mozart and some of his wonderful music.
In Kindergarten we read the book Play, Mozart, Play by Peter Sis. This book provides a comical and age appropriate look at Mozart as a child genius. We talked about what that word means along with the word composer (a person who writes music). So far we have listened to his variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Overture from the Marriage of Figaro and the beginning of his Piano Quartet No. 1 in G min. We have been listening for dynamics (piano and forte) as well as listening for different instruments.
In 1st grade we started off the unit with another interactive story. I taught the students their parts and we read about Mozart. The students are learning 5 facts about Mozart. We will also be listening to his variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, The Overture from the Marriage of Figaro and the beginning of his Piano Quartet No. 1 in G min. as well as a few other of my favorites. The students are learning to hear dynamics, and tempo, as well as the sounds of different instruments. We are also strengthening our thinking voice (audiation) by singing a song in our singing voice and thinking voice, switching when cued.
