EMF Explorers Week 2: Tuesday

Another fun day at EMF Explorers...Today we learned about the Baroque and Classical periods in Western music history.  We listened to the story of Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony, listened, and responded to excerpts from each movement through color and drawing. 

Orchestra visit: the woodwind family. Campers got to see and hear  the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, contra-bassoon, English Horn and piccolo. Back in the classroom students had the chance to touch and hear a flute up close.

Music: Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony

Activities: Singing and movement, playing drums, sticks, drawing in response to music

Musical Concepts: Instrument families, Baroque and Classical periods in Western music history, dynamics, and tempo

See you in the morning! 

EMF Explorers Week 2: Monday

We had a great first day with our 6-8 year old EMF Explorers! We began with our singing circle, focused listening, and movement activities. Campers got to hear the story of J.S. Bach and his Goldberg Variations, listen and respond to excerpts from each movement of the piece through color and drawing. Each day we will visit a family of instruments in the orchestra, and in today's rehearsal we were introduced to the string family. Campers got to see and hear the violin, viola, cello, and bass.

Music: Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra”
J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations

Activities: Singing and movement, playing drums

Musical Concepts Introduced: Instrument families, characteristics of various instruments in orchestra, and dynamics

See you in the morning! -Miss Susannah

EMF EXPLORERS: Thursday

Please remember that tomorrow we will meet at the regular time at The Music Academy of North Carolina.  Please note the directions in your parent letter, or see below if you are unfamiliar with the location.  Parents and families are invited to return early at 11:30 for a demonstration of some of the things we learned this week. See you tomorrow!

The Music Academy of North Carolina
1327 Beaman Place
Greensboro, NC 27408

2015 EMF EXPLORERS: Wednesday

Today we learned all about the brass family in the orchestra.  Campers got to hear the trumpet, tombone, horn, and tuba. In the classroom we talked about all the families, and campers had the opportunity to hear, touch, and see a flute up close.   We listened to recordings of some great works, and the children shared what the music made them imagine and envision.

Music: Sergei Prokofiev, "Peter and the Wolf"; J.S. Bach Goldberg Variations

Orchestra Visit: The Brass Family

Activities: Singing, movement, drawing in response to music, and playing sticks

Songs: Mouse, Mousie; Tree in the Woods; Aiken Drum; Listen for Bells

2015 EMF EXPLORERS Week 1: Tuesday

Today we learned all about the woodwinds and what makes an instrument belong to this family.  The students visited the orchestra and got to hear the flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, contra-bassoon, English Horn and piccolo. In the classroom we talked about the brass family, and campers had the opportunity to hear, touch, and see a horn up close.  We continued to learn about different dynamics and pitch levels, and what kind of instruments produce high and low sounds.  We listened to recordings of some great works, and the children shared what the music made them imagine and envision.

Music: Camille Saint Säens' "Carnival of the Animals"

Orchestra Visit: The Woodwind Family

Activities: Singing, movement, drawing in response to music, and playing sticks

Songs: Mouse, Mousie; Tree in the Woods; Aiken Drum

2015 EMF EXPLORERS Week 1: Monday

Our first week of Explorers is off to a great start!  Each morning this week we will visit EMF orchestras in their rehearsals to experience different instruments and their instrument families.  We will listen and respond to masterpiece works by great classical composers, and learn about and explore different musical concepts.

Music: Benjamin Britten’s “The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra”

Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2

Orchestra Visit: The String Family: violin, viola, cello, and double bass

Activities: Singing and movement, conducting with scarves, playing drums

EMF Explorers Week 2: Monday

We didn't waste any time this first morning of camp, beginning with our singing circle, focused listening, and movement activities! Campers got to hear the story of Haydn and his Farewell Symphony, listen and respond to excerpts from each movement of the symphony.  Each day we will visit a family of instruments in the orchestra, and in today's rehearsal we were introduced to the brass family.  Campers got to see and hear the trumpet, trombone, horn, and tuba.  We had a chance for some musical play outside and learned some new songs.  Back inside we practiced listening and imagining what story the music might be telling us, and later expressed those ideas through colors and drawing.

Listening: Farewell Symphony by Haydn and Till Eulenspiegels (Merry Pranks) by Strauss
(this is one of the pieces that will be performed on Saturday's EMF Family Concert)

Musical Concepts Introduced: Instrument families and dynamics

See you in the morning!

-Miss Susannah