Excelsior Classical

Read the short biography of Frederic Chopin found in your binder.

The Polonaise in A-flat major (or Heroic Polonaise) for solo piano was written by Frédéric Chopin in 1842. This masterpiece is one of Chopin’s most popular compositions and has always been a favorite of the classical piano repertoire. The piece requires exceptional pianistic skills and requires virtuosity to be played at an appropriate level of quality. It is also sometimes referred to as the Drum Polonaise.

Although the piece is labeled as a polonaise, it has little to do with the typical polonaise style. It presents two sections with a polonaise rhythm, but most of it has no particular polonaise attribute. It has been said that Chopin had composed the piece having a free and powerful Poland in mind, which may have led him to label it as a polonaise.

Visit the website below:

Arthur Rubenstein performs Chopin’s Polonaises in  A flat major (Heroic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEl9zn8JPW8

Day Two – Review Monet’s flash card, Water-Lilies.

Monet loved to paint outdoors. Many times, he painted the same scene over and over, observing the way light caused the scene to change according to the time of day.  Monet would keep art supplies aboard a boat and go onto bodies of water to paint. During the last 10 years of his life, he mainly painted scenes of his personal gardens and ponds. These paintings, which include Water-Lilies, are among his most famous.

Talk about the beauty of God’s creation. Here are a few verses and a quote to share:

Psalms 8:3-9

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 24:1-2

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

“God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on tress and flowers and clouds and stars.” – Martin Luther

Allow child to go outside to draw or paint something from nature. Bring artwork to class for show-and-tell.

Day Three – Review Monet’s flash card, Water-Lilies.

Make a copy of the Artist’s Study Sheet found in the back of the student’s binder. On the blank easel, write – Monet. Have the student dictate or write a few things that he learned/liked about Monet. File this in Monet’s section in student’s binder. We will also use this during Show-and-Tell.

Listen to Rubinstein’s  performance of Chopin’s Polonaises in  A flat major (Heroic). In this video clip, Rubinstein is older than in the clip from day one. This clip is also in color.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xktcg_rubinstein-plays-chopin-heroic-polo_music

For 9/17/10

Day One – Read Renoir’s biography in student’s binder. Introduce Renoir flash card, Girl with a Watering Can.

Day Two – Review Renoir flash card, Girl with a Watering Can.

Visit the site below to learn more about Chopin. You may print this biography and place it in student’s binder, if you like.

http://makingmusicfun.net/pdf/printit-biographies/chopin-printit-biography.pdf

Day Three – Review Renoir flash card, Girl with a Watering Can.

Occasionally, Renoir would paint landscapes and still lifes, but his favorite subjects were always people. He loved to show the joy of life in his paintings! Oftentimes, members of his own family were his subjects. Allow student to draw or paint of picture of someone in their family engaged in a fun activity. Place this in the Renoir section of the student’s binder. We will use this for Show-and-Tell.

Below is a link to several performances of Heroic Polonaise. Watch of few of these.  Ask the student which performance he liked best.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Chopin%3A+Polonaise+No.6+in+A+flat%2C+Op.53+-%22Heroic%22&aq=f

For 9/24/10

Renoir and Chopin

Throughout the week, listen to Chopin. Particularly listen to Heroic Polonaise.

We will be visiting the Garden of Praise website for our Renoir study this week.

http://gardenofpraise.com/art22.htm

Day One – Visit the website. Read the biography of Renoir. Scroll down and print the multiple-choice “test”. Read the questions and help your child circle the correct answers. This is a fun way to check comprehension and to re-enforce the material. You can place this in the Renoir section of student’s art binder. There is also a link in this area for a printable version of Renoir’s biography. Print this, if you like, and place it in Renoir’s section of the binder.

Day Two – Click on “View a Slide Show.” Talk about the paintings in the slide show.  If age appropriate, choose one of these printable activities to complete. Place the completed worksheet in the student’s binder.

Alphabetical Order

Monet Crossword Puzzle

Monet Word Search

Monet – Word Scramble

Day Three –  Make of copy of the Music Study Sheet found at the back of the student’s binder. Have child dictate or write some of the things he learned/liked about Chopin. Place this in the Chopin section of the binder. We will use this for Show-and-Tell.

Allow child to play a few of the online Renoir games.

Work a Jigsaw Puzzle

Online Crossword Puzzle

Online Word Search

Online Word Scramble

Color Picture Online

Memory Puzzle