CLassics for kids composer of the month

This month's composer is Franz Joseph Haydn.  We talk about Haydn in Kindergarten when we are learning about Loud and Soft.  Haydn wrote a spectacular piece highlighting these dynamics (the musical term for volume).  It is called his "Surprise Symphony."  The Whitehall students learn more about him during their recorder studies.  Haydn was quite the prankster, and got himself into trouble at times because he pushed his luck just a little too far! Below is a YouTube video of a performance of Haydn's Surprise Symphony...conducted by none other than Leonard Bernstein!  How about that!  Bernstein is everywhere!  If you have the opportunity, please watch or listen to the clip below, and head on over to the Classics for Kids website to learn more about Haydn and the other composers of the month.

This month's composer is Leonard Bernstein.  What is unique to Bernstein among our composer studies is that he was an American composer born in Massachusetts!  Many of the composers we study in class are quit a bit older, and most are European.  Bernstein does find his way into our recorder packet studies, so if he is your composer, I would check out the link for more information about him as well as to hear more of his music.   He was the first American conductor of a major American Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic.  

Most people have heard Bernstein's music, even if you don't realize it!  He wrote West Side Story which is a very well known musical.  He also wrote The Young People's Guide to the Orchestra which we've heard on multiple 2nd grade Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra trips. Bernstein thought that educating young people about music was a very important part of his career, so it is only fitting that he is one of our composer studies!  Please take some time to listen on the Classics for Kids site, and I have linked a video to Bernstein conducting some of his own work below.