Concert Experience
Aim: How can we prepare for and reflect on our performance at the Link Up concert?
Summary: Students learn about Carnegie Hall and important landmarks in their own neighborhoods, and prepare for the Link Up concert.
Standards: National 4, 5, 7, 9, 11; NYC 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Vocabulary: audience
Exploring Carnegie Hall and Important Places in Your Neighborhood
- Link Up is a program created by Carnegie Hall in New York City. Students in New York City participate in concerts at Carnegie Hall, and students around the world participate at concert halls in their local neighborhoods.
- Read The History of Carnegie Hall (PDF).
- Discuss important places in your neighborhood.
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- What are some of the most important places in your neighborhood?
- Where are some places that people from your community gather?
- What do they do in these places?
- As a group, agree on one place that might be considered the most important place in the community.
- Like Carnegie Hall in the 1950s, imagine if this important place in your neighborhood were going to be destroyed.
- How would you feel? How would the people in your community feel?
- What would you and your community do to save it?
Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919)
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American businessman who came to the United States as a young man with nothing, and then made his fortune in the steel industry—a true “rags-to-riches” story. Carnegie then devoted his entire fortune to philanthropy and the public good, building public libraries, funding universities and educational institutions, and supporting international peace. His interest in music also inspired him to help build more than 7,000 church organs and, of course, Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Preparing for Your Concert
- The students will be visiting the concert hall as a culmination of their work in Link Up. Brainstorm a list of feelings you may experience on the day of the concert.
- How do you think the musicians feel when they are performing onstage at the concert?
- You will attend the Link Up concert and perform with the orchestra musicians. What does this opportunity mean to your class?
- Review the complete concert repertoire for the relevant Link Up concert program with your students. Use the corresponding My Repertoire List (PDF) below to help them remember how they will be participating in each piece.
Becoming an Expert Audience Member
- Review the following behaviors and reminders to be prepared to be an active audience member.
- Turn your cell phone off before the performance starts.
- Pay attention and listen carefully to the host and conductor.
- Play or sing when asked.
- When playing or singing, sit up straight and at the edge of your seat.
- Be quiet and respectful of your neighbors and the performers onstage when you are not performing.
- Listen actively to the music. Get into the music and feel the beat in your body.
- Focus on the instruments. What do you hear? What do you see?
- Applaud appropriately after each piece.
- Be a good representative of the class and the school.
Post-Concert Reflection
- You did it! You and your students performed with the Link Up orchestra! Encourage your students to write a letter to the orchestra, concert host, conductor, or one of the musicians. Below are some prompts for students to consider as they write their letter.
- What was it like to visit the concert hall?
- How did it feel to perform by singing and/or playing an instrument?
- What did you notice about the sound of everyone playing and singing together?
- What did you enjoy most about the Link Up concert?