Each year, Performance Today serves local schools across the Twin Cities with its Young Artist in Residence Program. This program sends PT Young Artists into schools to present live concerts. Designed to engage and inspire elementary and junior high students through live musical performance, these concerts help cultivate active listening skills and allow students to experience the joy of classical music.
Due to current circumstances, Performance Today has adapted the concert content to provide virtual learning experiences in their new series "Performance Today in the Classroom." Today's PT in the Classroom Music Lesson features PT Young Artist in Residence Ari Schwartz.
Target age range: K-8
1. Meet Ari! Ari is a PT Young Artist and he plays the harp.
Write down or tell someone three things you learned from Ari’s introduction.
2. In the next video, listen and watch Ari play Carlos Salzedo’s Chanson dans la Nuit.
Do you remember how many fingers are used to play the harp? Write down your answer or tell someone.
3. Listen to Ari explain why he loves playing the harp.
Do you remember some of Ari’s favorite things about playing the harp?
4. The next piece is called Haiku for Harp by Susann McDonald and Linda Wood. First, watch and listen.
Follow-up questions for reflection, discussion, journaling:
What is a haiku?
Can you remember anything about the song you just heard?
5. The next piece is a piece called Great Day by Nancy Gustavson.
Follow-up questions for reflection, discussion, journaling:
What is a solo?
What is bowing?
How many fingers are used to play the harp?
6. In the next video, listen and watch Ari play Great Day by Nancy Gustavson.
Can you remember why a harp can be easier to play than other stringed instruments?
7. Finally, Ari will review a few key ideas from his PT in the Classroom Concert.
Have a question or suggestion? Contact Katie Condon, music education specialist.
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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment‘s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
