New Bedford Symphony Orchestra

Young People’s Concerts

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The Young People’s Concert series introduces elementary students to the live performance of classical music. Modeled on the famous program popularized by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, the Young People’s Concert series utilizes music that is especially accessible and interesting to children. The conductor explains the musical pieces and asks students questions to get them engaged in the concert. Most importantly, students have fun listening to classical music. After the concert, teachers use the concert experience to enhance their curriculum. The NBSO provides a teacher’s guide that provides lesson plans and creative educational ideas to help educators take full advantage of all that the program has to offer.

2013 Young People's Concerts

Mapping Melodies

The 2013 Young People's Concerts in March will explore the concept of contour and shape. Throughout the program, students will see the ways in which a melody line from a familiar and exciting classical piece has a unique shape that can be represented through musical notation, line graphs and fun and creative imagery.

Many of the musical examples will be drawn from the acclaimed Music in the Morning program that the New Bedford Symphony has placed in more than 50 schools across the South Coast. If your school does not currently participate in Music in the Morning, please contact Terry Wolkowicz, NBSO Education Coordinator at 508-999-6276 for more information about how to bring this unique enrichment program to your school.

Concert date: Monday, March 4, 2013 │9:30 a.m. or 12:00 noon

Dear Young People's Concert Attendees,

We are looking forward to seeing you and your students at the upcoming 2013 Young People's Concert scheduled for Monday, March 4, 2013, at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center in New Bedford. This year's lesson is about contour. More specifically, we will explore the concept of contour as it relates to melodies, mathematical graphs and creative imagery. During the concert, we will be showing the contour or shape of various melodies on a large suspended screen powerpoint above the orchestra. This is where I need your help. 

I have provided 4 examples which show various contour lines. You can download the contour maps here. These lines match the contour and shape of melodies in the classical music to be performed by the orchestra. I would like to ask that you present your students with one or more of the contour lines, and ask them to draw an image that matches the shape of the line. Please do not tell them that it has anything to do with music or even the upcoming concert. I want their imaginations to be free to draw what comes to mind.

I have also provided an example of a "completed" contour line. Notice the contour of the black line. (This contour line is from the Moldau by Smetana.) When I looked at the line, I saw a snake. I added my picture to the contour line. 

When you have completed this activity with your students, please send these contour pictures to me c/o the NBSO, P.O. Box 2053, New Bedford, MA 02741.  I think the students would be excited and surprised to see their drawings incorporated into the concert and displayed for all children to see. I would like to ask that the pictures get back to me as soon as you can. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at twolkowicz@nbsymphony.org. 

Thank you for your help,
Terry Wolkowicz