Introduction to Artforms

Introduction to ArtformsMusic

Sheku & Isata Kanneh-Mason, 2019 © Ryan Buchanan

Introduc/on to Ar0ormsMusic

Music is sound that has been organised by using rhythm, melody and harmony.

We make music using instruments or our voice.


Music often has a rhythm – this is when musical sounds and silences are put together in sequence.


There are many forms of music. The most commonly known ones are popular (pop) music, classical and jazz. However, nowadays music has branched further with technology and electronic ways of making music.


How many types of music can you name?

What is your favourite type of music to listen to?

The Villagers at Leith Theatre, 2019 © Gaelle Beri


The Interna/onal Fes/val brings some of the world’s top musicians to perform every August – from orchestras to solo singers, bands, choirs and quartets.


The International Festival’s music programme includes classical music, opera, Scottish traditional music, pop and rock music, and folk music.

Christine Goerke sings opera in Usher Hall, 2019 © Ryan Buchanan


Performances take place over three venues in Edinburgh, maybe you have been to one of them…


Usher HallHosts large classical concerts and orchestras.Can reach an audience of 2,000 people each night!


The Queen’s HallHosts smaller classical music and soloists, was built in 1823 and was originally a chapel.


Leith TheatreHosts contemporary music such as pop, rock and folk.It was abandoned in the 1980s and brought back to life in 2018.

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra in Usher Hall, 2019 © Ryan Buchanan


That was a picture taken on stage behind an orchestra looking out into the audience...

Does anyone know what an orchestra is?


An orchestra is a large group of musicians all playing on stage together.

An orchestra can have up to 100 musicians!


Do you play an instrument?

Find out what area of the orchestra it would be found in…

https://www.classicsforkids.com/music/instruments_orchestra.php

https://www.classicsforkids.com/music/instruments_orchestra.php


The instruments in an orchestra are typically broken down into four areas:

• Woodwind• Brass• Percussion• Strings


Woodwind:Woodwind instruments are made of a long hollow tube of wood or metal. The sound is made by blowing air through a very thin piece of shaved wood called a reed, or across a small mouthpiece. The clarinet is an example of a woodwind instrument.


Brass:Brass instruments are wind instruments made of metal with a cup shaped mouthpiece. The tuba is an example of a brass instrument.


Percussion:Percussion instruments are played by being struck or shaken. A snare drum is an example of a percussion instrument.


Strings:String instruments use vibrating strings to make their sounds.The violin is an example of a string instrument.


A conductor will stand at the front of the orchestra and will make sure the musicians all play to the right speed and rhythm.

Why not try and be a conductor to a piece of classical music?


Here is a picture of Composer Sir James MacMillan conduc/ng an orchestra...


A composer is the person who creates the music.

Very famous composers you may have heard of include Beethoven and Mozart.


Do like singing?

Do you sing as a class, perhaps in school shows or at Christmas /me?

Imagine singing as a choir at the Interna/onal Fes/val...


The Interna/onal Fes/val has its very own choir called the Edinburgh Fes/val Chorus…


Running for over 50 years, the chorus is made up of volunteer singers who rehearse songs year-round and then perform at the Festival each August


That was Anna Meredith who is from Edinburgh.

She loves music so much she made a career out of it and now writes new music and performs it across the world.


There are lots of ways of taking part in music, from singing to playing a musical instrument, to even just listening along... explore with your teacher ways you can take part in music and maybe one day you will perform at the Interna/onal Fes/val.


Teachers:

Additional resources on classical music suite The Planets can be found here –https://www.eif.co.uk/about/learning-and-engagement/our-work-with-children/holsts-the-planets-learning-resources

https://www.eif.co.uk/about/learning-and-engagement/our-work-with-children/holsts-the-planets-learning-resources

Introduction to Artforms

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