Concert
Preparatory
Packet
For
Teachers
Hawaii Youth Symphony
Concert Orchestra
December 7, 2016
Blaisdell Concert Hall
Notes About This Prep Packet
This packet was created to help you prepare your students for your concert.
Generic materials
Because the age of students in the concert audience range from Kindergarten to Grade 8, and because
the three Youth Symphony orchestras are playing many different pieces, these materials are rather
generic. Please adapt them to your specific grade level and needs.
FREE CD!
Listening CDs are available free of charge. If you would like one, and promise to play it in your
classroom, please let the teacher in charge of this field trip know and have them email
[email protected] with the request. In order to get the most out of your field trip, it is best
that the students come prepared, and that your concert is a culminating activity rather than just exposure.
Note: The sing-along songs on your CD are straightforward versions with no repeats or special endings.
Please follow the song leader at the concert.
When to listen
You may set aside time for direct, intentional listening experiences, or you may play the CD during seat
work time, transition time or other “down” time. The more the students hear the music, the more they’ll
enjoy the concert.
Sing-along songs
Students should practice songs in class and try to memorize them. Use the lyrics creatively in Language
Arts!
Worksheets
Several generic worksheets have been created. Some of them require that students have the two pages
of information about the instruments families, found in the Student Resources packet.
Web resources
Students will love these interactive websites:
Dallas Symphony Orchestra - all about the instruments, including sound samples!
http://www.dsokids.com/listen/by-instrument/.aspx or go to www.dsokids.com, click on Listen and
click on By Instrument
Carnegie Hall’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” - an awesome quest game! Learn about
the instruments while finding and collecting them. It takes several days to complete.
http://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org/ypgto/index.aspx
Students will need to create a user ID and password. Teachers may create a class list and monitor
student progress in the Instructor Module.
http://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org/ypgto/teachers/logon.aspx
Music Standard/Benchmarks for DOE Schools
Hawaii Youth Symphony Concerts
December 2016
HCPS III Music: Understands and applies elements of music and understands
how music communicates ideas, feelings, and experiences across cultures
Grade K
Benchmark FA.K.2.2 Demonstrate simple representation of high and low, short
and long, loud and soft, fast and slow (use concert pieces as examples)
Benchmark FA.K.2.3 Use an instrument to maintain a steady beat using quarter
notes and quarter rests (clap/play to recordings of concert pieces)
Benchmark FA.K.2.4 Identify various sources of music that can be heard in daily
life and their purpose (name the orchestra as a source of music)
Grade 1
Benchmark FA.1.2.5 Sing a simple song with appropriate vocal range from
memory (learn and sing the sing-along songs)
Benchmark FA.1.2.6 Identify families of instruments and how each sound is
produced (learn about instruments)
Benchmark FA.1.2.7 Explain how music can communicate ideas and moods
(explain what the music makes you feel or think of)
Grade 2
Benchmark FA.2.2.4 Describe instrument families and sounds from various
cultures (learn about instruments)
Music Standard/Benchmarks for DOE Schools
HCPS III Music: Understands and applies elements of music and understands
how music communicates ideas, feelings, and experiences across cultures
Grade 3
Benchmark FA.3.2.3 Identify simple musical forms and melodic or rhythmic
ostinato (repeated) pattern (musical form of sing-along song or concert pieces)
Benchmark FA.3.2.4 Identify the basic instruments of the orchestra by sight,
sound, and category, e.g., brass, woodwind, percussion, strings (learn about
instruments)
Benchmark FA.3.2.8 Use specific musical terms, e.g., dynamics, tempo, to
respond to elements of a musical performance (post-concert discussion/reflection)
Grade 4
Benchmark FA.4.2.4 Identify musical forms (e.g., rondos), theme, and variations
(identify musical form of concert pieces)
Benchmark FA.4.2.6 Compare and contrast musical styles from two or more
cultures (---depends on concert pieces)
Grade 5
Benchmark FA.5.2.5 Analyze musical elements when explaining or critiquing a
musical selection or musical performance (analyze concert pieces)
Benchmark FA.5.2.6 Compare the use of musical elements in aural examples of
American music and in music from other cultures (--depends on concert pieces)
Grade 6-8
Benchmark FA.6-8.2.7 Evaluate the effectiveness of a musical performance or
composition (evaluate effectiveness of concert or piece)
Benchmark FA.6-8.2.8 Compare the role of music and composers in various
cultures and time periods (learn background of pieces and composers, compare)
“Listen & Learn” School Concert
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
9:30 am
Concert Orchestra
Hannah Watanabe, Conductor
Wayne Fanning, Assistant Conductor
Selections/excerpts to be chosen from the following:
Romeo & Juliet Overture
Brahms First Symphony, Fourth
Movement
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
(sing-along)
Mele Kalikimaka
(sing-along)
Millennium
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
arr. Richard Meyer (ASCAP)
arr. Vernon F. Leidig
Johnny Marks
arr. James D. Ployhar
Robert Alex Anderson
arr. Angel Peña
Richard Meyer
Program Notes and Background Information
Concert Orchestra
December 7, 2016
Concert Orchestra will play excerpts from the following pieces:
Romeo and Juliet Overture
It is the timeless story of two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet! Russian composer Peter
Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840 - 1893), best known today for his ballets Swan Lake, The Sleeping
Beauty and The Nutcracker, completed the score to his Romeo and Juliet Overture when he was
only 29, almost the same age Shakespeare was when he finished writing the play. It was
Tchaikovsky’s fourth published orchestral piece, and suggested the genius the young composer
would become.
The overture begins with a peaceful hymn-like introduction, representing the kindly Friar
Laurence, who was friend and advisor to Romeo and Juliet. The music erupts into a faster
tempo, depicting the ancient feud between the Montagues and Capulets. This leads to the
famous love theme of Romeo and Juliet, that has been used in TV shows, commercials, and
Tommy Dorsey’s 1939 big band hit, “Our Love.” After a return to previous themes, the final
section of the overture restates the love theme, transformed into a tragic lament. Concert
Orchestra plays Richard Meyer’s arrangement of Romeo and Juliet Overture.
Listen for:
 hymn-like theme of Friar Laurence
 Montague and Capulet families fighting
 cymbal crashes, depicting sword fights
 the familiar love theme
Brahms First Symphony, Fourth Movement
German composer Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897) is sometimes grouped with Bach and
Beethoven as one of the great “Three Bs.” The son of a seamstress and musician, Brahms
showed musical talent at an early age. He eventually became popular and influential across
many musical genres – piano, chamber music, orchestral and solo voice/choral. Brahms was a
devout student of the Bible and described his musical ideas, themes, harmonies and
orchestrations as coming directly from God. He wrote four symphonies and Concert Orchestra
plays the finale of his first, arranged by Vernon F. Leidig.
Listen for:
 the introductory theme stated by the horn, then echoed by the flute
 the hymn-like main theme by the strings, then the woodwinds
 snippets of the theme, treated in a variety of ways
 accelerando (speeding up)
 a majestic ending
Millennium
This 1998 National School Orchestra Association composition contest winner was written just
before the dawn of the new millennium by Richard Meyer, a full time public school music
teacher. Besides teaching, Meyer has composed and arranged over 100 pieces for young
ensembles. His arrangements make difficult orchestral pieces accessible to developing
musicians. Millennium has three sections. The heroic main theme is stated by the brass, with
percussive accompaniment. A contrasting, lyrical middle section follows. The piece ends in an
energetic march that includes the majestic restatement of the main theme.
Listen for:
 timpani (kettle drum) roll under a solo trumpet call
 building anticipation by the lower instruments and percussion
 the arrival of the main theme by the brass
 the slow middle section, featuring the cellos and then full orchestra
 return of the main theme, featuring the different sections
Sing-along Songs
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Mele Kalikimaka
These songs should be familiar to students of all ages. They should be part of their “must know”
repertoire. Please have students memorize lyrics, not only for the concert, but to add to their
general knowledge. These songs are included on the concert preparation CD. If you haven’t
ordered one when you made your reservations, would like one, and promise to play it in your
classroom, please email [email protected] and request a free copy.
Youth Symphony CO Sing-along Lyrics
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!”
Mele Kalikimaka
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day.
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway.
Here we know that Christmas
Will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day
And all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas to you.
Tag:
To say Merry Christmas
A very Merry Christmas
To say Merry Christmas to you.
Youth Symphony CO Sing-along Lyrics
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
Had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
Then how the reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer,
You'll go down in history!”
Mele Kalikimaka
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day.
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway.
Here we know that Christmas
Will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day
And all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
To say Merry Christmas to you.
Tag:
To say Merry Christmas
A very Merry Christmas
To say Merry Christmas to you.