Feast of Ideas Week 5 - Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach is often regarded as one of the most amazing and prolific composers of all time. Polyphonic music was quite popular during the Baroque era. Polyphonic music was the outgrowth from monophonic (single melody with no harmonies) music to melodic lines with simple harmonies to several lines of melody interweaving amongst each other to create fascinating and complex harmonies. This is called counterpoint and Bach was a considered the Einstein of creating counterpoint. He seemed to be able to create counterpoint effortlessly in his mind. His compositions have influenced musicians for centuries.

Please check out the following resources to learn more about the master of counterpoint….

  • Activity Packet: (CLICK HERE)

  • Click HERE to read more about Bach

  • German RECIPE: Pfeffernusse Cookies

  • Books

    • Becoming Bach by Tom Leonard

    • Bach to the Rescue!!! How a Rich Dude Who Couldn’t Sleep Inspired the Greatest Music Ever by Tom Angleberger

  • Music: check out the following Bach pieces. I also included links to one of my favorite movie scenes of all times. Mr. Holland’s Opus, a movie about a musician learning the joy of teaching music, is one of my favorite movies. In this scene, he has such a creative approach to teaching Bach!

 
 
 
 

Looking to integrate your Music lesson with Science, Art, Literature, and History into your Homeschool week? Follow these steps

The Composer Study Activity Packet (CLICK HERE)

2) Gather needed materials such as books, food, artwork, computer links, music (This week’s RECIPE is a molasses German cookie)

  • Beethoven’s Wig is a WONDERFUL CD that puts funny words to well known classical music. I highly recommend listening to both the music with lyrics and the original work. It’s a great way for kids to develop familiarity and affinity for the music. I often have to play the CD on repeat with my daughters asking for it again and again.

3) Complete activities throughout the week (can do as many or as few as you want). Open up YouTube and search for Vivaldi, have the music playing in the background as you complete the activities each day.

Day 1

  • Listen to Song while coloring the doodle page

    Eat the food from their country while reading the living book

  • Discuss & cut out the concurrent people, places, inventions, and events that occurred during the composer’s lifetime.  Paste onto Map page. 

Day 2

  • Complete the Sequencing worksheet

  • Geography

    • Draw an outline of Germany, color a picture of the German flag, or work on drawing your continent

Day 3

  • Complete the Copywork Worksheet

  • Art - Caravaggio: The Calling of St. Matthew

    • Read aloud a living book about the artist

    • Create your own artwork or look at Caravaggio’s artwork (Caravaggio: The Art Lover’s Guide to Understanding Symbols in His Paintings by Stefano Zuffi) while listening to the Well Tempered Calvier

Day 4

  • Complete Braille Decoding worksheet

  • Science

    • Read aloud a book about the following science discoveries: Ice cream, Telescope

      • The Scoop on Ice Cream! By Bonnie Williams

      • The Telescope by Tamara Orr

Day 5

  • Complete the Rhythm Matching worksheet

  • History - Salem Witch Trials

    • Read aloud: Blast Back! The Salem Witch Trials by Nancy Ohlin

    • Ask for a narration

Beth Smith