Kevin Gift Presents Jazz Piano Masters

Transcription

1 ASSEMBLY COORDINATOR: PLEASE DISTRIBUTE/POST/ANNOUNCE! Assembly date: Assembly time: For: Presents Pianist began his studies in Caracas, Venezuela at the age of four and first performed publicly at the age of seven. Mr. Gift received his Masters Degree in piano performance from the Northwestern University School of Music where he was a scholarship student under the tutelage of renowned pianist Ursula Oppens. Mr. Gift has performed recitals in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington D.C., and recently performed in Annapolis at the Naval Academy Ministry Center and at St. John's College. An avid sports enthusiast Mr. Gift currently resides in Baltimore and enjoys playing basketball and soccer and listening to jazz.

2 - Prep Information For Assembly Coordinator - Presents PLEASE PASS ALONG THE ATTACHED TEACHER PROGRAM GUIDE TO ALL PARTICIPATING CLASSROOMS. SET-UP REQUIREMENTS: A tuned piano Folding chair Microphone, if available Audience limited to 250 ARTIST ARRIVAL TIME: 20 minutes prior to performance SUGGESTED INTRODUCTION: Ladies and Gentlemen, Boys and Girls, today we will view, and listen to, a performance by a professional musician who began studying music at the age of four in Venezuela, and who first performed publicly at the age of seven! Please welcome Young Audiences of Maryland Artist Mr.! YAMD CONTACT NUMBER: INCLEMENT WEATHER: DON T WORRY! Artists will follow school closings/delays. They will work with you to reschedule the performance if necessary. AFTER HOURS/EMERGENCY NUMBER: Call and follow the prompts to be connected with a staff member on call.

3 Teacher Program Guide Artist Bio Artist: GRADE LEVEL: 6-8; 9-12 Inside this guide: Artist Bio Performance Description SC Connectors Vocabulary List of Resources Post-Performance Activities Contact Young Audiences for more information on this and other programs Pianist began his studies in Caracas, Venezuela at the age of four and first performed publicly at the age of seven. Mr. Gift received his Masters Degree in piano performance from the Northwestern University School of Music where he was a scholarship student under the tutelage of renowned pianist Ursula Oppens. Mr. Gift has performed recitals in Atlanta, Chicago, and Washington D.C., and recently performed in Annapolis at the Naval Academy Ministry Center and at St. John's College. An avid sports enthusiast Mr. Gift currently resides in Baltimore and enjoys playing basketball and soccer and listening to jazz. Performance Description Opening: Kevin follows a short jazz piece with a personal introduction. Questions are then posed to the audience members concerning their participation in the arts. Do they play, or have they ever played, an instrument? Have they ever sung? Do they enjoy listening to music? Body: Kevin introduces the music of jazz pianists ranging from Thelonius Monk and Art Tatum to Keith Jarrett and himself. Kevin explores the art of improvisation in jazz with the use of both familiar and original music examples. He also demonstrates how improvisation can make practicing music fun and personally satisfying. Finale: Kevin engages students in a question and answer session. Maryland State Curriculum Connectors Fine Arts Content Standards in MUSIC 2.0 Historical, Cultural, and Social Context: Students will demonstrate an understanding of music as an essential aspect of history and human experience. 1. Develop the ability to recognize music as a form of individual and cultural expression through experiencing music as both personal and societal expression

4 Vocabulary Improvisation: something performed without any preparation Chord: two or more musical notes played or sung simultaneously Composer ornamentation piano: meaning play softly Piano forte: meaning 'soft loud', pianos were the first keyboard instrument that could do both Piano: a musical instrument made of a wooden case with wires stretched inside of it and a row of black and white keys or softly and quietly Ornamentation: the addition of a note or set of notes that embellishes a melody or harmony Scat: jazz singing with nonsense syllables For Teachers List of Resources Great Black Americans by Ben Albert Richardson Lives of the Musicians by Kathleen Knull (classical composers) Music, Music for Everyone by Vera B. Williams Post-Performance Activities 1. Use the Vocabulary Resource Sheet to define and discuss key concepts from the program. 2. Use the Venn Diagram Handout: Ask students to compare and contrast Jazz vs. Hip Hop or another music style selected by student/teacher. 3. Ideas/Questions for Discussion A. What is Jazz? B. How did Jazz develop? C. How did the music express the culture? Sweet Notes, Sour Notes by Nancy Smiler Levinson Striders to Beboppers and Beyond: the Art of Jazz Piano by Leslie Gourse Yolanda s Genius by Carol Fenner Contact YAMD for more information about this and other programs

5 Vocabulary Resource Sheet Improvisation: Composer ornamentation piano: Piano forte: Piano: Chord: Ornamentation: Scat: Name: Date:

6 Post-Performance Activity: Name: Date: