The Kennedy Center is one of our favorite places to visit and we enjoy various shows and concerts there as often as we can. Today, we had the chance to get together with some of our homeschool friends and go to an educational performance called The String Thing. This is part of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Music for Young Audiences series and as expected, it did not disappoint! Bassist Paul DeNola and violinist Heather LeDoux Green put on a hilarious and stunningly talented act to introduce the audience to some fantastic pieces of music. It held the attention of both old and young alike, and we enjoyed the performance, clapping enthusiastically when it ended.
Ahead of the performance, the kids had the opportunity to try out some percussion and some string instruments, and this is something that my kids always look forward to.
Each of these performances come with a link to a Learning Guide. This guide provides information about the show, learning objectives that are met according to the public education system standards, and sometimes, even the pieces that were performed. For example:
Music Performed
- Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55: IV Finale: Allegro Molto by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Duo for Violin and Cello: III. Presto by Jessie Montgomery
- Symphonie Fantastique: II. Un Bal by Hector Berlioz
- Très Tangos: I. Microcentro by Andrés Martin
- Much Ado About Nothing Suite for violin & piano: V. Mummenschanz by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
- Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 III Scherzando by Ludwig van Beethoven
- Huapango by José Pablo Moncayo
- Serenade for Strings in C major, Op. 48: IV Andante/Allegro by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
I am grateful to live in the nation’s capital and have access to some world-class cultural experiences. I have always loved that about where I live but being able to share that with my children and experience things through their eyes and their joy has elevated that gratitude. Come and join us next time!
