Strings, Kansas! Formal Videoconferences and Video Webcasts

Technical

will use fancy Polycom stuff. Cannot be done with simple computer and webcam
requires support from tech person at your school
needs large screen.
Best suited for auditorium or room already designated for Interactive Distance Learning videoconferencing.
need to schedule videoconferencing trial.
There is setup work and setup time involved.

There are a total of 4 formal videoconferences, paired with 4 concert webcasts.
These videoconferences are interactive, and between WSU and the 4th and 5th graders in all of the communities involved.
Videoconferences will be Thursdays Tuesdays or Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:15 2:00 to 2:45 1:30 to 2:15
Concert webcasts start at 7:30pm and will not exceed 2 hours
The videoconferences serve in part to prepare the 4th and 5th graders for the video-fed performances happening within a week after the videoconference
String Buddies will take turns leading the videoconferences
The entire WSU orchestra with its music director Dr. Mark Laycock will be there on stage also participating/demonstrating
String Buddies will create the script for the videoconferences, as advised by John Harrison and Jacque Dillon
- this will be distributed to music teachers at least one week before the videoconference
The String Buddies will relate each aspect of their videoconference with what the students are learning in the !LinkUP! program.
The String Buddies will relate to the 4th and 5th graders as musicians.
WSU will provide 1 set CDs of all of the repertoire to every community participating.
- We will also provide a blank CD for each 4th and 5th grader participating, which you can use at your own discretion.

videoconference: Tuesday, October 24th
concert webcast: Monday, October 30
videoconference theme: storytelling - how do composers use instruments and melodies to tell a spooky story?
concert name: Thrills and Chills Family Concert
program:
- Mozart: Overture to The Magic Flute
- Franck: The Accursed Huntsman
- Holst: Mars and Jupiter from The Planets
- Stravinsky: Infernal Dance from The Firebird
- Danny Elfman: Batman
- David Rimelis: Cool Ghoul

videoconference: Tuesday, November 28th
concert webcast: Thursday, December 7
videoconferences theme: Beethoven, Copland, Dvorak, oh my! - a journey of people and places. What is it like to be a composer? What was Germany, The Czech Republic, and The United States like during the times of these composers?
program:
- Suzanne Tirk, clarinet
- Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3
- Copland: Clarinet Concerto
- Dvorak: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor

videoconference: Thursday, January 25th
concert webcast: Thursday, February 8
videoconference theme: The Concerto: What is a concerto? What does it feel like to play a concerto as a soloist?
program:
- Johann Strauss, Jr.: Overture to Die Fledermaus
- Malcolm Arnold: English Dances Set No. 2
- Concerto-Aria Competition Winners

videoconference: Thursday, March 1st
concert webcast: Saturday, March 3
videoconference theme: The Opera: What is an opera? How does the text sung by opera singers inform the orchestral score? (example: if there is text about love, does the orchestra play a lush chord or dissonant one? If they are singing about creating a plot, what happens in the orchestra melodies?)
concert name: Opera Theatre
program:
- Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmelites

reflective activities for 4th and 5th graders
posting projects on the blog
logistics problems
feedback on themes
how will theme of each videoconference relate to what 4th and 5th graders are learning at that point in their year?
webcasts:
- venue
- 4th and 5th graders create artwork displayed at at the webcast?
- 4th and 5th graders perform? present what they have learned? before the webcast.
- 4th and 5th graders introduce their String Buddy? talk about favorite piece? what people might listen for?
Reflection activity:
- Students create artwork around theme of pre-concert VC – how did music make them feel? Which piece did they like best & why?
- Students can write essay about theme of pre-concert VC
- Students can compose their own piece around theme of pre-concert VC
- student work posted on public blog
- Student reflection gallery walk-through at WSU
- Display best student work from each class at WSU
- Can put this work on PPT to display at concert during seating and exiting
- Student work (with permission) can be part of silent auction for fundraising continuation of program.