5th Grade Music Critics Part 2

This our second installment our 5th Grade music critics.  Our listenings  were inspired by the musical group The Piano Guys.  We listened to two very very different pieces and then watched how the Piano Guys did their own versions of the songs.  

 Our first listening is one of the most famous classical pieces of music ever written.  Which most of us have heard again and again at weddings, it is Pachelbel's Canon in D.  This piece, surprisingly to me, got many more thumb ups than thumbs down. The 5th graders used words like: flowing, relaxing, boring, repetitive,  and one said it made them think of a waterfall on a snowy day.  Please enjoy both the original version and the Piano Guy's version of Pachelbel's Canon in D.  

The second Piano Guy's inspired listening was theme from the famous T.V show turned movie called, Mission Impossible.  It is one of the most recognizable themes in TV and movies.  The kids gave a huge list of other movies they have heard this theme in.  Enjoy the original version along with the Piano Guy's twist on this classic theme.  

5th Grade Music Critics

    This year in 5th grade we have already started working on Pirates the Musical!  We have also started working on becoming music critics. Everyone has different taste in music and this year in 5th grade we have started a listening journal that includes both classical and modern music.  We will listen to music from Bach to Rock.  We will not all love the same kind of music and we had a class discussion on how to critique music in a mature way.  Below is what we want to know about each piece.

- Who?  Band/Artist/ Composer

- What?  Genre

- When?  Year/Old or New 

- Where?  Country of origin

- What did you like about it?

- What did you not like about it?

-Instruments?

- Voice?  Male/Female, High or Low

- Dynamics (Loud or Soft) 

- Describe it in a few words.     

    Our first week's listening examples were two very different pieces of music. Our classical work was George Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks, La Rejouissance:  Allegro."  

    Our modern piece for the week was a personal favorite, the Beach Boy's "Good Vibrations."  

    "Good Vibrations" has a very interesting instrument called a theremin.  Check out below how this instrument works. 

    Take a few minutes and be your own music critic.  Which did you like the best and why?  Leave any suggestions you have for our next daily listening journal.