Chapter Seven
Music
Chapter Inspiration:
“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” –Aldous Huxley
“What do I do every night? I listen to the silence-music of the twinkling stars.”–Sri Chinmoy
“Music has charms to soothe the savage breast To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” –William Congreve
“Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body.” –Oliver Wendell Holmes
“Music is the pathway to the heart.” –Voltaire
“ Music makes people milder, and gentler, more moral and more reasonable.”–Martin Luthe
“ Life is everywhere. The earth is throbbing with it. It’s like music. The plants, the creatures, the ones we see, the ones we don’t see, it’s like one big, pulsating symphony.” –Diane Frolov, Northern Exposure
“When gripping grief the heart doth wound, And doleful dumps the mind oppress, Then music, with her silver sound With speedy help doth lend redress.” –William Shakespeare
Chapter Story:
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) was born in Bonn, Germany. Today we refer to Ludwig by his last name – Beethoven. Beethoven’s father wanted him to start learning music at a very young age – when he was only five years old. Ludwig’s father wanted Ludwig to be like Mozart, who was the most famous musician at that time. Beethoven did learn music at a young age, and he did eventually become famous, but the music he wrote in his life was very differ ent from Mozart’s music! By the age of twelve Beethoven was already an assis tant to the local organist, who was also his teacher. By this age, Beethoven was already composing his own music as well. (When a musician writes music it is called composing.)
Beethoven’s mother died when he was seventeen years old and, at about the same time, Beethoven’s father had to go to live in a hospital because he was very sick from alcoholism. Soon afterwards he also died. This meant that Beethoven had to care for his two younger brothers. Even though Beethoven had these important responsibilities, he still continued practicing and composing his music.
Beethoven moved to Vienna to study with one of the best musicians of that time, Franz Josef Hadyn. He took his two brothers with him. Beethoven liked Vienna so much that he stayed there for the rest of his life. In Vienna, Beethoven continued to practice playing the piano, and he continued to compose his own music. He wrote symphonies, sonatas, quartets and even a ballet. Some of Beethoven’s most famous pieces are his Eighth Piano Sonata, called the Pathetique, his Sixth Symphony, called the Pastoral Symphony, his Ninth Sym phony, called the Ode to Joy, and, what is perhaps his most famous work, the Moonlight Sonata.
Beethoven’s music was very different from the other music of his time, and because of this it took Beethoven a long time to be accepted and appreciated. Some people did not like Beethoven’s music at all, and they wrote negative arti cles about him and spread nasty rumors about him in order to discourage him. Beethoven did not let these things stop him. He continued to make the kind of music that sprang up in his invisible heart, the music that he heard in his head, that was specially his and that nobody else could write. Beethoven’s composi tions contained many new musical ideas that were able to express deep feelings and powerful images.
One of the biggest challenges that Beethoven faced in his life was that when he was only thirty he started to go deaf. Deafness is a difficult challenge for any person, but especially for a musician. His deafness became worse and worse, and finally he was unable to perform in public. Because he could no longer hear people speak, and because deafness makes it very hard to speak prop erly, Beethoven had to communicate with friends and visitors by writing things down on a slate or in little notebooks. The amazing thing, though, is that Beethoven did not let his deafness stop him from composing music! Beethoven composed many pieces of music during the period in which he was partially or totally deaf. He could still hear music in his imagination, even though he could not hear it with his ears. He was able to write down the music that he heard, so that others could play it. In this way, even though he could no longer hear his
music with his ears, he was able to share it with others so they could hear it. In this way he triumphed over his disability. Beethoven’s independence and deter mination as an artist, and his courage in overcoming adversity, have been an inspiration not just to musicians but also to poets, painters, dancers and other artists. His life and his accomplishments continue to be an inspiration to all of us even today.
Chapter Overview:
There are many, many different kinds of music. Besides the kind of music that Beethoven wrote, sometimes called “classical” music, there are jazz, blues, hip-hop, and others. Music is something that everyone enjoys and everyone can benefit from. Did you know that human beings have been making music for thou sands and thousands of years? Why do you think that is?
Today, music is a very important part of our lives. We find it everywhere. Can you name some places where you might find or hear music. Let’s try to cele brate music each day, or at least each week, here at school. It will be a fun activi ty we can do together. We can all help to find different kinds of music that we can listen to. We can also make up our own music and even make our own musi cal instruments. Enjoying music will help us to feel harmony inside ourselves and also to make harmony in our classroom.
Chapter Lessons:
Lesson #1— Let’s enjoy music together every day
How many of you students have parents or grandparents who play a musi cal instrument? How many of you are learning an instrument yourselves? If you are not yet learning an instrument, what instrument would you like to learn? Let’s make a list of as many musical instruments as we can think of. How many did we come up with? What is your favorite kind of music? What is special about the kind of music you like?
Since we will be making lots of music together, we can make some percus sion instruments to help us make rhythm for the songs we will sing. You can make a shaker or a drum, or both. For a shaker, you can bring in an empty soda can. Fill the can about one third to one half full with popcorn or small stones. Then seal the hole and decorate the can with some art paper. To make a drum, bring in an empty, round Quaker Oatmeal container that still has the top. Wipe out the inside of the box with a tissue or cloth. Seal the top with some strong tape. You can also decorate your drum with art paper or tissue paper. Instead of the container top you can also cover the container with a piece of leather. Now you have a drum! With your shaker or your drum you are ready to make music with your class.
Lesson #2 — Music for personal reflection and to create harmony inside us
Listen for a few minutes to music for relaxation, such as Sri Chinmoy’s flute music. Close your eyes while you are listening to the music. Let your breath flow smoothly and gently, in and out. When you breathe in, let your breath go way down into your belly, and when you breathe out, let as much of your breath out as you can before you breathe in again. As you listen to the music allow all of your muscles to relax. Let go of any tension you are feeling. Let your mind become calm and quiet. The music can fill you with peaceful energy, if you focus on it and let your thoughts flow along with it. Now open your eyes and rest for a few moments. Did the music help you to feel peaceful?
Lesson #3 — Music for visualization – Moonlight Sonata of Beethoven
Dim the lights in the room to create a peaceful atmosphere. Close your eyes and listen to the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. As you listen to Beethoven’s music, imagine the moon shining on the waves of the ocean. In your mind’s eye see the waves rolling into the shore and shining like twinkling dia monds in the light of the moon. Imagine you can hear the waves and feel the sand under your feet. Imagine there is nobody on the beach except for you. Imag ine you are feeling peaceful and joyful at the sight of the beautiful, shimmering waves. When the music is over gently open your eyes. Share with the class what you saw in your imagination and how Beethoven’s music made you feel.
Lesson #4 – Music to teach about feelings
What kinds of feelings do you get when you listen to music? Listen to three or four different kinds of music – classical, jazz, relaxation music, hip-hop, or rock. What kinds of feelings do you get from the different kinds of music? What kind of music would you like to listen to when you are reading or doing school work? What kind of music would you like to dance to? What kind of music makes you feel the most peaceful? What kind of music would you like to listen to just for fun? Different kinds of music help us to feel different things. Music can be our friend when we are lonely or sad, and music can help us cele brate when we are feeling happy or excited.
Recommended Songs:
Circle of Friends I Love
You Are My Sunshine
Lesson #5 — Music to teach about virtues
Music can be an excellent way to learn about virtues. For example, the song, This Land is My Land, by Woody Guthrie, is a song about compassion. Woody Guthrie wrote this song during the Great Depression in the United States, when many people did not have jobs or enough food to eat. New immigrants were coming to America and some people who were already here were saying, “We don’t even have enough food for ourselves, why should we let more people come here?” Woody Guthrie had a different philosophy. In his song he says, “This land is your land, this land is my land … this land was made for you and me.” In other words, this land of America is for everyone who wants to come, work hard, and join our community. We can learn lessons like this from many songs – especially from folk songs from America and other lands around the world.
Recommended Songs:
This Land is Your Land– Woody Guthrie
The Sparrow and The Thief– Andrew Kutt
This Little Light of Mine
Make New Friends
Lesson #6 – Music from other lands
Music is an ideal way for us to learn about the people of other cultures. Each culture of the world has its own kind of music. The music of each culture expresses the feelings, dreams, ideas, and stories of that culture. When people of other cultures sing and dance to their own music, they feel they are expressing the soul or message of their culture. So, when we learn and play music from some one else’s culture we can gain a deeper understanding of people who are different from ourselves. Music from other cultures can help us to feel connected with oth ers from around the world.
Recommended Songs:
Tue Tue Barima Tue (African)
Quay Ah He Ah No (Native American)
Lesson #7 — Music just for fun – Rhymes and games
Sometimes it is nice to just have fun with music. Here is a word, rhythm and movement activity that you can do for fun. You do not need to have any music.
Kerplink (For this activity you can easily make up your own movements or gestures, by listening to the story.)
One day when my dad was reading the paper
And my mom was doing the dishes
And I was practicing piano (kerplink, kerplink, kerplink),
There was a knock-knock-knock on the door.
(A knock-knock-knock on the door.)
Mom said, “Patricia! Open the door!”
Dad said, “Patricia! Open the door!”
“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it.
(“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it.)
So I did it!
It was a tall-fat-skinny-little man-y
(A tall-fat-skinny-little-man-y)
Who wanted to talk to dad!
The next day when my mom was reading the paper
And my dad was doing the dishes
And I was practicing piano (kerplink, kerplink, kerplink),
There was a knock-knock-knock on the door.
(A knock-knock-knock on the door.)
Mom said “Patricia! Open the door!”
Dad said, “Patricia! Open the door!”
“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it.
(“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it.)
So I did it!
It was a tall-fat-skinny-little man-y
(A tall fat skinny little man-y)
Who wanted to talk to mom!
The next day when dad and mom were both doing the dishes
And I was practicing piano (kerplink, kerplink, kerplink),
There was a knock-knock-knock on the door.
(A knock-knock-knock on the door.)
Mom said, “Patricia! Open the door!”
Dad said, “Patricia! Open the door!”
“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it.
(“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it).
So I did it!
It was a tall-fat-skinny-little man
(A tall fat skinny little man)
Who wanted to talk to me!
The man said, “Patricia, will you marry me?”
“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it
(“Yes sir, yes sir,” but I wouldn’t do it.)
And SO I DID IT!
Additional recommended “for fun” songs:
Miss Mary Mack
She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain
Note: There are a variety of hand-clapping games for Miss Mary Mack, and
some classic hand and body movements for She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the
Mountain.Lesson #8 — Music for peace and harmony
And Every One with Their Vine and Fig Tree is a traditional song based upon a verse from the Old Testament of the Bible. It is a wonderful song to sing whenever you want to bring forth a peaceful spirit and create a feeling of harmo ny. Below are the words to the song. In italics after each line are some move ments you can do along with the song to bring it more to life.
And everyone with their vine and fig tree.
With one hand make the motion of a vine growing, by putting your thumb and your first two fingers together and moving them upward in a swirling motion. With the other hand make the motion of a fig tree blossoming, by letting your fin gertips wiggle as your hand rises higher.
Shall live in peace and unafraid
Both hands cross flat one over the other in the middle of your chest
And everyone with their vine and fig tree
Repeat movements as above
Shall live in peace and unafraid
Repeat movements as above
And into ploughshares turn their swords
Starting with hands folded in the center of the chest, spread your hands slowly outward as if to embrace the sky. Then above your forehead let your hands come together again. Finally let your hands come to rest again – folded in front of your chest.
Nations shall make war no more
With folded hands bow forward gently
And into ploughshares turn their swords
Repeat movements as above
Nations shall make war no more
Repeat movements as above
Alternate Verse: We shall be friends more and more
Additional Recommended Songs:
Peace Like a River
From a Distance
Deep Peace–Donovan
Discussion Questions:
a) Voltaire said, “Music is the pathway to the heart.” What do you think he meant?
b) Which one of the chapter quotations do you like the best? Can you say why?
c) What do you think was the biggest challenge in Beethoven’s life? Why?
d) What was your favorite lesson in this chapter? What did you like about your favorite lesson?
Supplemental Activities:
Learn about some of the basic kinds of classical music and listen to some examples of each. A symphony is a piece of music played by a whole orchestra. A sonata is a musical piece for just one instrument. A quartet is for four instruments– usually two violins, a viola, and a cello in classical music. A concerto is a piece for a small or large orchestra that features one main instrument such as the piano or the flute. A ballet is a piece of music written for a dance performance.
Decide what instrument you would like to play, and say why.