Secondary Curriculum – Pathway to a Piece: Lesson 1, Main 1: Active Bach Listening

Time: 15 minutes

Group size: Whole Class/Individual

Tag words: solo, violins, orchestra, notation, changes, texture, chords, structure, sketch, blocks, colours 

Play the class the first movement of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor.

Tell the pupils that the piece is for two solo violins and a string orchestra. Watch with the animated notation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0daRRpLRJ4 Suggest that they follow one part (one colour) as they watch. Class discussion: Listen for the changes in texture e.g. moments when there is only a solo line and sparse chords (such as 50 seconds in). Explain that when the pupils compose their pieces, they will aim to include different textures and moments where there is lots of space in the music.

Teacher: hand out a sheet of paper to each pupil along with pens/pencils. Tell them that they are going to listen again and draw a rough sketch of the structure of the piece. They can use simple blocks where the texture changes, and colours for particular themes or instruments, with shading for loud and quiet sections.

LISTEN: https://goo.gl/9qOVBD Share and discuss sketches