BEFORE YOU GO
There are several different types of concerts that are differentiated based on the number of performers, the instruments used, the genre of music being performed and other factors. Here are the most common types of concerts:
Symphony or Philharmonic Orchestra Concerts features a large number of musicians that are led by a conductor. Each instrument family is represented – brass, woodwinds, percussions and strings. Sometimes additional performers are added such as a soloist or a chorus.
Chamber Orchestra Concerts are composed of 40 or fewer musicians who perform with or without a conductor. There are also other types of chamber orchestras based on the number of musicians, the kind of instruments used and the type of music performed.
Choral Music Concerts are performed by a group of singers known as a choir. The size of the choir varies; it can be as few as three singers or as huge as a hundred singers.
Band Concerts consist of musicians playing percussion and wind instruments, but other types of instruments may be added depending on the music piece. Concert bands are also called wind ensembles, wind bands, symphonic bands, etc. The repertoire varies; from classical to contemporary music.
Jazz Concerts are performances of American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre.
American Folk Music Concerts are American traditional music performances of what is also known as roots music. Roots music is a broad category of music including bluegrass, country music, gospel, old time music, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, Cajun Rap and Native American music.
Contemporary Music Concerts are usually performed with popular singers/musicians. Contemporary music is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music, ballad-heavy music to the present day, with varying degrees of easy listening, pop, soul, rhythm and blues, quiet storm, rock and pop. Usually performed with popular singers/musicians.
CONTENT
Knowledge
Discuss the type of music that the students will be hearing. Have the students research the history of the composer, genre of music, and the performers/musicians.
Vocabulary
Band: a group of instrumentalists playing music of a specialized type: rock band; calypso band; mariachi band; a musical group, usually employing brass, percussion, and often woodwind instruments.
Chamber Music: instrumental music played by a small ensemble, with one player to a part, the most important form being the string quartet which developed in the 18th century.
Composer: a person who writes music, especially as a professional occupation.
Concert: a musical performance given in public, typically by several performers or of several separate compositions.
Conductor: a person who directs the performance of an orchestra or choir.
Ensemble: a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together.
Lyric: the words of a song.
Melody: pleasing arrangement of sounds; a series of musical notes or tones arranged in a definite pattern of pitch and rhythm; the main part in a musical composition.
Orchestra: a group of musicians including especially string players organized to perform ensemble music
Philharmonic: devoted to music; music-loving; used especially in the name of certain musical societies that sponsor symphony orchestras (Philharmonic Societies) and hence applied to their concerts (philharmonic concerts)
Symphony: an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements, at least one of which is traditionally in sonata form.
Venue: the place where something happens, especially an organized event such as a concert, conference, or sports event.
SKILLS
– Listening skills
– Vocabulary development
– Writing