National Symphony Orchestra Family Concert: Bernstein! Inside the Music featuring Ben Folds

Things to Talk About on the Way Home After the performance, be sure to keep thinking and talking about your experience. Here are some questions for the trip home for everyone to discuss:

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hat was your favorite part of W the concert, and why?

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hat music made you want to W move or dance? Hum or sing a little if you remember the melody!

What stories did you imagine as you listened to the different music? Try drawing some pictures of what you imagined.

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How did you like the improvised song Ben and Marissa created?

How did they put the music together…on the spot?

■

hich instrument(s) did you W like best, and why?

■

How would you like to make music in your own life? Play it?

Sing it? Beatbox it? Improvise it?

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Family Concert

Bernstein!

Inside the Music Welcome to the Family Concert

What did you learn about Leonard Bernstein?

Leonard Bernstein, left, wrote all kinds of music. During the show, you’ll hear two of his pieces. One comes from Candide, a short and funny opera, and the other from the hit Broadway musical West Side Story. Can you hear the differences in the music?

Photo: New York Philharmonic Archives

NSO Young People’s Concerts are made possible in part by the generous support of A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; and U.S. Department of Education.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman Deborah F. Rutter President Mario R. Rossero Senior Vice President Education

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Gianandrea Noseda Music Director National Symphony Orchestra Gary Ginstling Executive Director National Symphony Orchestra

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

The content of this Cuesheet may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government. © 2018 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO.

The NSO Young People’s Concerts are sponsored by The Volgenau Foundation.

Inside the Concert Welcome to the public performance of the NSO Young People’s Concert celebrating Leonard Bernstein, who would have been 100 years old this year. And while you’ll learn all about the performance in the (large) Cuesheet performance guide, here we want to introduce you to a very special guest appearing only at today’s family concert.

Meet the Multi-Talented Ben Folds Ben Folds is a musician and composer who has loved music for a long time. Ben started playing instruments when he was just eight years old, and pretty soon, he had mastered the drums, piano, and bass guitar.

After high school, he played and wrote music in several rock bands — even one called Pots and Pans! But he’s always loved the orchestra and that’s why he is the first Artistic Advisor (someone who gives helpful ideas) to the National Symphony Orchestra. And like Leonard Bernstein, Ben wants to help young people enjoy all kinds of music.

Making Music on the Spot Ben enjoys creating music and sometimes he even likes to perform it without planning or rehearsing first. This is called improvisation (pronounced im-prov-uh-ZEY-shuhn).

During the concert, you’ll see and hear Ben make up music right on the spot with his piano and voice plus some help from NSO violinist Marissa Regni. Watch and listen carefully for how these two musicians have fun creating a brand-new song.

Be like Ben! What music could you improvise by singing, clapping your hands, playing an instrument you know, or even beatboxing? After the show, try some of the ways Ben and Marissa used to create their song, like starting with an idea and then adding musical patterns to go with it. Create and perform your song with family and friends.

More Musical Fun Be sure to stop by the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” in the Opera House lobby, where at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today, you can enjoy hands-on fun with orchestra instruments.

Photo: Scott Suchman

And thank you for coming to the concert— keep singing and playing and please come back for more great music and theater at the Kennedy Center all year long!

Inside the Concert Welcome to the public performance of the NSO Young People’s Concert celebrating Leonard Bernstein, who would have been 100 years old this year. And while you’ll learn all about the performance in the (large) Cuesheet performance guide, here we want to introduce you to a very special guest appearing only at today’s family concert.

Meet the Multi-Talented Ben Folds Ben Folds is a musician and composer who has loved music for a long time. Ben started playing instruments when he was just eight years old, and pretty soon, he had mastered the drums, piano, and bass guitar.

After high school, he played and wrote music in several rock bands — even one called Pots and Pans! But he’s always loved the orchestra and that’s why he is the first Artistic Advisor (someone who gives helpful ideas) to the National Symphony Orchestra. And like Leonard Bernstein, Ben wants to help young people enjoy all kinds of music.

Making Music on the Spot Ben enjoys creating music and sometimes he even likes to perform it without planning or rehearsing first. This is called improvisation (pronounced im-prov-uh-ZEY-shuhn).

During the concert, you’ll see and hear Ben make up music right on the spot with his piano and voice plus some help from NSO violinist Marissa Regni. Watch and listen carefully for how these two musicians have fun creating a brand-new song.

Be like Ben! What music could you improvise by singing, clapping your hands, playing an instrument you know, or even beatboxing? After the show, try some of the ways Ben and Marissa used to create their song, like starting with an idea and then adding musical patterns to go with it. Create and perform your song with family and friends.

More Musical Fun Be sure to stop by the Musical Instrument “Petting Zoo” in the Opera House lobby, where at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. today, you can enjoy hands-on fun with orchestra instruments.

Photo: Scott Suchman

And thank you for coming to the concert— keep singing and playing and please come back for more great music and theater at the Kennedy Center all year long!

Things to Talk About on the Way Home After the performance, be sure to keep thinking and talking about your experience. Here are some questions for the trip home for everyone to discuss:

■

■

hat was your favorite part of W the concert, and why?

■

hat music made you want to W move or dance? Hum or sing a little if you remember the melody!

What stories did you imagine as you listened to the different music? Try drawing some pictures of what you imagined.

■

How did you like the improvised song Ben and Marissa created?

How did they put the music together…on the spot?

■

hich instrument(s) did you W like best, and why?

■

How would you like to make music in your own life? Play it?

Sing it? Beatbox it? Improvise it?

■

Family Concert

Bernstein!

Inside the Music Welcome to the Family Concert

What did you learn about Leonard Bernstein?

Leonard Bernstein, left, wrote all kinds of music. During the show, you’ll hear two of his pieces. One comes from Candide, a short and funny opera, and the other from the hit Broadway musical West Side Story. Can you hear the differences in the music?

Photo: New York Philharmonic Archives

NSO Young People’s Concerts are made possible in part by the generous support of A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation; the Kimsey Endowment; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation; Park Foundation, Inc.; and U.S. Department of Education.

David M. Rubenstein Chairman Deborah F. Rutter President Mario R. Rossero Senior Vice President Education

Major support for educational programs at the Kennedy Center is provided by David M. Rubenstein through the Rubenstein Arts Access Program.

Gianandrea Noseda Music Director National Symphony Orchestra Gary Ginstling Executive Director National Symphony Orchestra

Kennedy Center education and related artistic programming is made possible through the generosity of the National Committee for the Performing Arts.

The content of this Cuesheet may have been developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education but does not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education. You should not assume endorsement by the federal government. © 2018 The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

David M. Rubenstein is the Presenting Underwriter of the NSO.

The NSO Young People’s Concerts are sponsored by The Volgenau Foundation.