Stravinsky
Teaching a lesson on Igor Stravinsky today. I played the “Finale” from the 1919 version of the ballet “The Firebird”. They love it! Once one finds a way to get kids to actively listen to classical music and love it, you’re in after that. You can teach them anything about music, just so long as you start where they are and bring them to where you need them to be as far as their music education is concerned.
Now, the coolest part of having them listen to the Finale is the big orchestral hit midway through that makes them jump. It’s so funny, and they laugh and have so much fun afterward. This is the best year I have had as a music educator since starting in Fall 2005. I still don’t anticipate doing this for much longer, but I do try to enjoy it as much as I can while I’m still in it.
