Listening Lessons

Listening Lesson: Jessie Montgomery and Musical Influence

Composer Jessie Montgomery was influenced by listening to a lot of records as a child. Look back historically on various devices used to capture music from the record player to the smart phone, and learn about some of the composer’s influences.

Listening Lesson: 'Golden Butterflies'

Explore the timbres of the violin, cello, and piano in this listening lesson.

Listening Lesson: 'Short Ride in a Fast Machine'

Practice finding the STEADY BEAT in this listening lesson for Elementary ages.

Listening Lesson: 'Mother Goose Suite'

Listen and respond to one story from this collection.

Listening Lesson: 'Cat Fugue'

Cat videos, cat memes, and composers and cats! Notice how melodic contour can represent the path of a cat’s feet, moving up and down a keyboard in Domenico Scarlatti's ‘Cat Fugue.’

Listening Lesson: 'Mothership'

Listen and respond to string instruments and soloists how improvise, in this lesson featuring Mason Bates’ “Mothership.”

Listening Lesson: 'The Swineherd Suite'

Music and stories are often connected. The timbre of different instruments can represent different characters. Use a listening map to notice and describe the timbre of various instruments in a musical story called The Swineherd’s Suite.

Listening Lesson: 'Walking the Dog'

Composer George Gershwin wrote a piece called Walking the Dog. Internalize steady beat by walking along to this musical promenade.

Listening Lesson: 'One-Dog Canoe'

Dan Nass composed "One-Dog Canoe" based on the book by Mary Casanova. Utilize the included coloring activity while listening to the narrated story.

Listening Lesson: 'In Memoriam'

Music and art can help process feelings surrounding difficult issues. In 2020, Sphinx Virtuosi recorded Herbert’s piece, In Memoriam in remembrance of George Floyd, Stephen Lawrence and many other victims.

Listening Lesson: 'Little Train of Caipira'

Composer Heitor Villa-Lobos was inspired by the sounds of little trains that travel through the Brazilian countryside. Use literacy and art skills to engage with the music. Make your own sandpaper blocks to create your own train sounds.

Listening Lesson: 'Saturday Night Waltz'

Follow along with a listening map and use movement to respond to part of Aaron Copland’s ballet, "Rodeo." Great for all ages.

Listening Lesson: 'Vltava'

Use your imagination and transport yourself to the Moldau River as you listen to "Vltava", also called "The Moldau," by Bedrich Smetana.

Listening Lesson: 'Mars, the Bringer of War'

Composer Gustav Holst wrote a collection of musical pieces called The Planets. Explore the movement about Mars.

Listening Lesson: 'The Unanswered Question'

A musical phrase describes a series of notes that communicate a musical idea. Learn about musical questions and answers, and listen to “The Unanswered Question” by Charles Ives.

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This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

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