This year's Mystery Composer is.....
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart  (1756-1791) is considered to be one of the top composers who ever lived.  A child prodigy, Mozart started playing the harpsichord at age four, was composing by age five and  touring and  performing by age six.    The April Group Lessons were devoted to the life and music of Mozart.  Each student received a packet with a brief history of Mozart, a CD of Mozart's music, a small book on Mozart and an age appropriate assignment.  Parents of elementary children will need to be sure their student(s) have access to their CD in order to listen to the music assigned.  Assignments are also listed below.

NOTE:  If one no longer owns a CD player or if your computer does not have a CD drive, please send a thumb drive to your student's next lesson; I will download the playlist on it.  I cannot post the playlist on this website (due to fees charged and copyright issues).

We discussed the fortepiano and the opera The Magic Flute.   The elementary groups watched two videos:  one on the fortepiano and another showing a scene from The Magic Flute -- Papageno-Papagena.  The middle and high school students also watched a clip on the Queen of the Night Aria from The Magic Flute.  ​I've included the clips below.  Those students who went to Denton, TX to hear Christoph Hammer had a wonderful glimpse into the life and instruments of Mozart.

Assignments are due at your private lesson the week of April 16th.​  

Monday's Early Elementary Group

• Finish the color sheets started at Group
• Listen to the CD then complete the four questions on the Listening Assignment Page included in your packet.
• Review the "Story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" then complete the Mozart Scramble.
• Finish reading the book on Mozart with a parent.  We read through page 5.
• Have a parent read the fortepiano fact sheet then pretend your piano is a fortepiano the next time you practice.​

Tuesday's Elementary Group

• Finish the color sheets started at Group
• Listen to the CD then complete the four questions on the Listening Assignment Page included in your packet.
• Review the "Story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart" then complete the Mozart Scramble.
• Read the synopsis on The Magic Flute.  ​Complete the crossword puzzle.
  
• Finish reading the book on Mozart. 
• Re-read the fortepiano fact sheet then pretend your piano is a fortepiano the next time you practice.

Middle and High School Groups

• Read the book on Mozart
• Listen to the CD
• Do the "Mozart Scramble"
• Do the Crossword Puzzle #1
• Do the Crossword Puzzle on The Magic Flute
• Do the Essay assignment (found in your packet)
• ​Do the Listening assignment (also found in your packet)

Introducing the Fortepiano - Kristian Bezuidenhout

The Magic Flute:  Papageno-Papagena Duet

The Magic Flute:  "Der Hoelle Rache" -- the Queen of the Night Aria