Listening Lesson: 'Saturday Night Waltz'

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Cowboy and horses in golden light · Daniil Vnoutchkov/Unsplash

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Age Range: Elementary, Middle School; Grades K-8

Learning Objective: Students will follow along with a listening map and use movement to respond to part of Aaron Copland’s ballet, Rodeo.

Overall Description: Listening Lessons guide students through one piece or movement of music, using listening maps and suggested activities to cultivate deep listening skills.

Total Video Time: 4:13

Total Lesson Time: Approximately 15 minutes

Download This Free Lesson Plan

Download This Free Listening Map

LISTEN to Saturday Night Waltz with a map

Composer Aaron Copland wrote music for a ballet about cowboys and cowgirls, called Rodeo ("Ro-DAY-oh"). In this lesson, you will focus on one movement, or section, called Saturday Night Waltz. During this part of the ballet, a bunch of cowgirls and cowboys are at a barn dance.
Listen to the piece. Follow the listening map to help you notice details and form in the music, then dance along! Notice what instruments you hear. Think about what might be happening at the barn dance during each part of the piece.
Feel like dancing? Re-enact the barn dance and dance along.

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