YOUTH CONCERT

  The Waterbury Symphony Orchestra and conductor Leif Bjaland will present an exciting journey around the world through music and imagination, Friday, October 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. The 60 minute program makes stops in either countries; the United States, England, Germany, France, West Africa, Argentina, Russia, and China, through the music of composers such as Beethoven, Ravel, Offenbach, Grofe, and Sousa.

   As part of the program, students from Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School will present information about each country and will be featured in performance on the African Drums Bill Scheidt of Living Rhythms will work with Rottella students as part of a seperarte residency program, October 16-17 during which time he will instruct the students in drumming as well as song and dance techniques from West Africa.

   The program is designed for fifth grade students, with curricular integration of Music, Social Studies, Multi-Cultural and Language Arts. Admission is open to all public, private and homeschool students and the program is suitable for grades 3-7. An educational study guide will be provided to all teachers and students upon registration. Funding for the educational materials was provided by the Schlegel Fund.

   Students will become familiar with the orchestral instruments and the distinct roles of the composer, the conductor and the performer. Students will be introduced to basic concert etiquette and the orchestral concert experience. Topics addressed will include scales (major/minor in Western Music, pentatonic in Eastern music, and modes used in Eastern Europe and Western Asia), simple vs. complex harmony, and the prominent use of syncopation in African and Latin American music. Students will be able to identify the continents and locate the countries discussed on a map. They will learn about the culture, language, history and current events of each of the eight countries.

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