In Search of a Symphony

Introduction – Task – Process – Evaluation - Conclusion

Introduction

After Spring break the school principal received tickets to a musical performance at the downtown auditorium. Your 4th grade class won the tickets in the school contest. On the day of the concert each student dressed up and boarded the bus to attend the performance. After the class entered the auditorium, the conductor turned to the audience and made an announcement. He said that someone in the audience would win a trip to Europe with the symphony. The winner would be able to travel to many cities in Europe to see and hear the symphony perform in grand places. The winner would be able to see beautiful sites of these European cities. All this contestant has to do is define what makes up a symphony in a portfolio with definitions and pictures. You turn to your classmates and excitedly say that you want to enter the contest. You want to go on that trip to Europe!

Task

The task will be interesting. Each classmate wants to win the European trip. So it will be important to do a good job. To enter the contest you must fill out an entry form for this fact finding contest. Here is a sample of an entry form.

Process

There are a few steps that you will want to remember as you search for information about parts of a symphony. Here they are:

1. Create a portfolio of instruments that are found in a symphony. You will have a folder for holding all of your instrument pages. Use this INSTRUMENT PAGE as a guide for each instrument that you include in your portfolio. Remember to fill in responses to all of lines on the instrument page for each instrument. You will complete 3 different instrument pages from each section of a symphony. Total pages = 12

2. Include a picture of each instrument. You may draw a picture of each instrument that you include in your portfolio. Your teacher will have the paper to use for your pictures.

3. Here are some websites that you will use to gather the information on instruments.

Remember to click on the BACK button to return to this page.

Click here for the stage outline of a symphony This site begins a good search.

Click here for general questions about an orchestra or symphony.

Click here for instrument definitions –

4. Then write a 4 to 6 sentence statement to the conductor on WHY you should be chosen to win this contest. You could write about what you already know about instruments, what you have learned about instruments, and what you still want to learn about instruments.

5. Once you have your portfolio on the symphony instruments, pictures, entry form, and letter to the conductor, show it to your teacher so that he/she can check to see if it is ready to enter in the contest.

6. Do your best work! Good luck!!!

Evaluation

· For this symphony search contest each applicant (student) must include the following in the portfolio.

40 points Gather and complete 12 instrument pages.

40 points Draw or color a picture for each instrument.

10 points Use the websites to obtain information for this search contest.

5 points Complete an entry form.

5 points Write a statement to the conductor (4-6 sentences).

Total Points = 100 points

Conclusion

· As a class at the end of this search of a symphony, you will share two new things that you’ve learned from this search.

· After everyone has shared their information, the class will get to see a special musical presentation from musicians who play in a symphony or orchestra.

· The winner will be announced and will receive the “Visual Trip to Europe” award. (A descriptive portfolio with pictures of places in Europe where musical performances are held).

· Each of you will receive applause for your work.

· You can also go to the following websites for more information about music.

Click here for more information on symphonies beyond instruments: Philharmonic

Click here for fun jokes about instruments - Jokes

Click here for information about Odd instruments.

· Remember that music is a wonderful part of life. Learn to play an instrument.