Memoria Press ~ A Review

Music Appreciation I is just one of the many great curriculums offered through Memoria Press. This is intended for use in grades 3-5. With that said, I am using it with my 6th grader who has little music background and it has been the perfect fit for her. Music Appreciation I is comprised of a workbook and two audio CD's. 

Here is a list of the musical compositions that are covered and the concepts learned:

George Frideric Handel, Water Music, Suite in D Major (HWV 349): 2. Alla Hornpipe
concepts: Musical Form, ABA Form, Baroque Period
Antonio Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, Concerto no. 4 in F Minor, op. 8, rV 297, “L’inverno” (Winter), i. Allegro Non Molto
concepts: Absolute Music, Programmatic Music, Concerto, Movement, Ritornello Form
Johann Sebastian Bach, Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria and Variation 1
concepts: Melody, Theme, Rhythm, Harmony, Theme and Variations
Johann Sebastian Bach, Keyboard Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 1052: i. Allegro
concepts: Concerto, Ritornello Form, Solo, Tu i, Baroque Driving Rhythms
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade No. 13 for Strings in G Major), Allegro
concepts: Introduction to Sonata Form, Exposition, Development, Recapitulation, Classical Period
Beethoven, Bagatelle no. 25 in A Minor (Für elise)
concepts: Notes, Pitches, Seven Basic Note Name, C Scale, Arpeggio, Rondo Form
Leopold Mozart, Toy Symphony (Cassation in G Major for Toys, 2 Oboes, Strings and Continuo)
concepts: Introduction to Intervals, Half Step, Whole Step
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, kV. 550: i. Molto Allegro
concepts: Symphony, Movement, Absolute Music, Sonata Form, Classical Period
Leopold Mozart, Minuet in F Major
concepts: Basic Note Names, Octave, Sharps, Enharmonics, Binary Form
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 6 in F Major, op. 68, “Pastoral”: i. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
concepts: Programmatic Music, Di erences between the Classical and Romantic Periods
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a: ii-b. Dance of The Sugar Plum Fairy
concepts: Suite, Celesta
English Carol of French Origin, The Twelve Days of Christmas
concepts: Cumulative Song, Review of Binary, Ternary, Theme and Variations, Ritornello, Rondo, and Sonata Forms
Franz Schubert, Piano Quintet in A Major, D. 667, The Trout: IV. Andantino - Allegre o
concepts: Chamber Music, Chamber Ensemble Names
Johannes Brahms, Lullaby, Op. 49, No. 4
concepts: Flats, Syncopation
Johann Strauss II, An Der Schönen Blauen Donau (The Beautiful Blue Danube), Op. 314
concepts: Wal , Coda
Richard Wagner, Pilgrims’ Chorus From Tannhäuser
concepts: Opera, Musical Drama, Leitmotif
Camille Saint-Saëns, Le Carnaval Des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals): Vii. Aquarium
concept: Tempo
Jules Massenet, Méditation from Thaïs
concepts: Interlude, Transcription, Arpeggio
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Flight of the Bumblebee from the Tale of Tsar Saltan
concepts: Prologue, Act
Modest Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition: No. 5, Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks
concepts: Grace Notes, Nationalistic Music, Scherzo

Sergei Proko ev, Peter and the Wolf, op. 67
concepts: Dissonant, Consonant

Paul Dukas, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
concepts: Motif, Symphonic Poem
Maurice Ravel, Boléro
concepts: Ostinato, Tonic, Impressionism
Aaron Copland, Hoe-Down from Rodeo
concepts: Meter, Measure
George Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
concepts: Rhapsody, Rubato, Blues Scale
John Sta ord Smith (Lyrics by Francis Sco Key), “The Star-Spangled Banner”
concept: Range 

I was somewhat confused when we began the curriculum because there really was not clear straightforward instructions as to how to implement the program. It took me some time to figure out how it all worked, or at least how we would use it. 

So how is each chapter broken down?

1. Listen 

• Students listen to the musical piece they are about to study. For some, it maybe the first time.

2. A Little History

• Students read this section to get a glimpse into the lives of the composers/musicians, the time period, why they may have composed the piece, what was going on in history that played a significant role in the piece. 

3. Musical Concept

• The student will listen to tracks on the CD and learn about musical vocabulary/concepts as well as analyze the music. 

4. About The Piece

• This gets into more detail of the piece being studied. For example, Water Music, Suite in D Major, was used in entertaining. "Handel included several styles of dances that were popular with royalty. They were highly organized dances with series of steps that had to be learned and rehearsed during dance lessons, which was a common aristocratic activity." 

5. Musical History

• Students learn about the various periods in musical history such as the Baroque period. 

6. Facts To Remember

• This is a list of the important facts that the student needs to take away from the lesson. 

7. Listen Again

• The student is asked to listen to specific tracks again. 

Some chapters change up the sections a bit. For instance, in Chapter 14, there are only six sections. Or, in Chapter 12, there are two Musical Concept sections. The point is, The above breakdown is only an example of what some chapters will look like. 

Tests, lets not forget about good old tests. There are tests after every four chapters. There are a total of 26 chapters in Music Appreciation 1. 

My 6th grade daughter used this curriculum. She was a bit intimidated by the curriculum as a whole since she has had very little music theory or overall musical education. She doesn't play any instruments either. My daughter is a dancer, her love being ballet, so music is a huge part of her life. One of her weaknesses in dance is counting out steps and going to fast. My hope through using this curriculum was that she would gain a sense of not only music appreciation but more about rhythm and timing. She really enjoyed learning about the composers and pieces. 

I would definitely recommend Music Appreciation I to others looking for a great overview of some of the greatest pieces in the canon of Western classical music. 

To read more reviews click here.

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