Listen to Music that Tells a Story ~ Sorcerer's Apprentice Lesson (with a Maestro Classics Giveaway)
Tuesday, June 11, 2013 at 5:00AM
One of our favorite ways to easily enjoy music is to learn about stories in music.
I remember wondering where composers could get an idea for a piece of music. It wasn't until I was older that I realized they could be inspired by great stories.
One of the very best examples of this is The Sorcerer's Apprentice, by Paul Dukas (based on the original poem by Goethe).
*This post contains affiliate links.
This type of a lesson doesn't have to be complicated. It doesn't even require any writing.
Students all ages enjoy this story, and will remember it for quite some time.
Introduce the Story/Poem: The Sorcerer's Apprentice
We actually have two versions of The Sorcerer's Apprentice. I love to collect rare children's books, and found this one in the vendor hall at The Great Homeschool Convention in March. (I do see it's available on Amazon, too - this is my favorite version.)
We have another version that we picked up at a used book sale - I also like this telling of The Sorcerer's Apprentice very much, and think it's better for younger children.
You can also share Goethe's original poem, which has been translated from German into English.
After reading the story and discussing it a bit, I tell children that a composer named Paul Dukas (1865-1935) wrote a piece of music to go along with this story. We then listen to the music and try to "hear the story" in the music.
And of course, we must watch the portion of Walt Disney's Fantasia based on the Sorcerer's Apprentice:
As you listen to the music, pause it whenever you feel the music has really reflected the story in an interesting way. I love how the music is dark and spooky in the beginning - Walt Disney's animation even reflects this, too.
As the piece progressed there is a march like rhythm as the pieces of the broomstick are coming to life. The tempo of the piece continues to go faster and faster as things get more out of control for the poor apprentice.
The end of the piece finishes much like it began, calm and mysterious - with a loud ending (the sorcerer spanking Mickey with the broom).
I think you'll find your children will be quite amused with this piece!
Other ideas for teaching include:
- Draw or paint a picture while you are listening to the music
- Write as many ways you can think of that the music sounds like the story
- List all of the instruments you hear
- If you have a piano or other instrument can you make up your own story and then "tell it" on that instrument?
This type of listening activity fuels creativity and can greatly inspire our children.
One of my favorite music education companies is Maestro Classics. They specialize in stories in music.
Each Maestro Classics CD is a story in music, complete with award winning music, narration, and activities. It's as simple as putting the CD in your player and listening. There is NO WORK required from the parent!
They just so happen to have a CD or The Sorcerer's Apprentice which I am delighted to give away to one lucky reader today!From their website:
"The lazy apprentice, confident that he can use his master’s spell to do his chores, chants the magic spell and takes a nap. As the water swirls around the workshop getting ever higher, the apprentice awakens, only to discover that he does not know the spell to stop the brooms! A thrilling narration accompanies Paul Dukas’ dramatic musical score.
A 24-page activity book included with the CD contains a biography of Dukas, information on pitched percussion instruments, sheet music, a kitchen percussion play-along, games and more. MP3 download from Maestro Classics website includes a PDF of the activity booklet."
Follow the Rafflecopter instructions to enter the giveaway.
*This giveaway is open to US and International Residents! An International Winner will receive the .mp3 recording of the story as well as a .pdf download of the activity booklet.
Other posts in this series:
Day 1: Teaching Music Appreciation in Your Homeschool
This post is part of a Summer Hopscotch from the iHomeschool Network. Visit other bloggers to read about more topics that can help you on your homeschool journey!
Reader Comments (55)
What a great giveaway! I long to have the time to incorporate music in our school day!! I've had my eyes on Music Maestro for a while!!! :-)
very cool company and ideas :) thanks for the inspiration and reminding me about this company :)
What a fun way to teach a child (or adult!) an appreciation of music! I am always looking for fun ways to instill a love for music and art in my son.
Great series!! And giveaways. :)
I have not taught music yet as my daughter still goes to music, choir, and band at the public school since it is so close but this will change in the upcoming year so your teaching helpers are great for me!! Thank you!
I teach music at home and at co-op.
I do teach music appreciation and have started posting about it. You can see them here: http://theadventuresofbear.blogspot.com/search/label/music
The kids color composer portraits from the Beautiful Feet Timeline as they listen to stories about the composer and listen to the composer's music. I keep wanting to use the SQUILT lessons with them, but the composer studies so far have been spur of the moment and I didn't have the Squilt sheets ready.
We haven't done much yet, but would like to.
Our incorporation of music and music appreciation has been piecemeal and in fits and starts. I hope to use your posts and SQUILT to start this year.
I don't formally teach music appreciation, but we try to get to family-friendly orchestra events in the city when we can. And occasionally the classical CD goes on in the car CD player instead of the usual kids stuff.
Ummmm... no. But now that Ii have SQUILT I will be! ;-)
thanks for the opportunity to try these materials!
I do some music but I'd love new ideas! Thanks for the giveaway!
I'm slacking in the teaching of music department. I did buy one of those beginner books for piano - maybe I read about it here - but I haven't started it with them yet because I'm nervous I'll screw it up!
My son has been sick the past 2 school years, so we are just getting by doing the 3Rs each day that we can. I am hoping to be able to incorporate more music and art and nature study this next year.
Yes! We love music and all the fun we have with it!
I try to teach Music Appreciation. We love Maestro Classics!!
I'm going to this year! Excited and can't wait!
We've listened to a couple of these .. LOVE them!
I've been trying to instill a love/appreciation for classical music in my girls from a very young age. I adore Maestro Classics CDs and would love to add to our personal library. http://www.teachingstars.com/2013/05/03/7-suggestions-for-fostering-a-love-of-classical-music-in-your-children/
Unfortunately I am not teaching music appreciation to my kids at this point
Yes I am teaching music appreciation to my children as part of our homeschool lessons.
It's not something that we focus on every year; but we have spent some time learning about different composers during a few of our homeschooling years.
I would love to teach music appreciation in our homeschool. We just finished our first year and would love to incorporate music into next year's schedule.
We do composer studies - but I love to incorporate music with other lessons - so when we come across Goethe in literature, a lesson like this would fit right in!