You can then find recordings of the two instruments and listen for the differences in sound. You may like to consider the following topics:

What does each of the instruments sound like?
Can you think of any factors in either instrument that may influence the way the music sounds?
Which instruments sound do you prefer?
Do you think Handel would have liked the piano?
Recently musicians have been seeking to perform baroque music on instruments from the era. Why do you think they would do that?

One of Handel’s best known works is the oratorio The Messiah. Imagine that you are in the audience of that first performance of the Messiah. On the way out, you are stopped to be interviewed by the local television news (…just use your imagination!). What do you tell them about it? Choose someone to be the interviewer, with a brief introduction and video record the responses of the “audience” members.

Design a Facebook profile for J.S. Bach. You’ll want to include some basic information like when his birthday is, his relationship status and Relgious Views, “Personal Information” (Contact details, Education and Work), “Friends” (any significant people who lived at the same time as Bach) and finally you’ll want to add some “groups” that Bach may have belonged in. Find a photo on the internet to finish off the project. Students not familiar with Facebook could design a passport.

Have a class discussion about what you would say if you could invite J.S. Bach to your house for a cup of tea. Make a list of three questions you would like to ask him about his life or the time in history that he lived. Have a class discussion on what the answers would be or choose a student to be Bach and ask them some of the questions. The class could even bring in some traditional german food such as gingerbread to share to complete this activity.

Find a work of art on the internet that was created around the same time that Bach was alive. Do some research to find some of the ways that the art work reflects the same Baroque style that Bach’s music does.

These days Handel’s keyboard music is most often performed on a piano. At the time that this music was performed however pianos had not yet been invented, so keyboard music was generally played on a harpsichord. Have the students research differences between the instruments, looking at the time when each instrument was invented, and the methods of sound production in each instrument.

After reviewing the differences between the piano and the harpsichord, listen to recordings of each of these instruments and then discuss the actual differences in sound. You may like to consider the following topics:

How would you describe the sound of each instrument?
Can you think of any factors in either instrument that may influence the way the music sounds?
Which sound is most appealing to you?
Do you think Handel would have liked the piano?
Recently musicians have been seeking to perform baroque music on instruments from the era. Why do you think they would do that?

Handel’s oratorio The Messiah is one of his most well known works. Imagine that you are in the audience of that first performance of the Messiah. Imagine that after the performance you are stopped by a reporter for the local television news. What would you say? You could choose one student to be the reported, and videotape interviews with “audience” members.

Design a Facebook profile for J.S. Bach. Include “Basic Information” (Network, Birthday, Relationship Status, Religious Views), More “personal information” like work and education backround, And think about who Bach may have been connected with as “Friends” and create some “Groups” that Bach may have belonged to. Find a photo on the internet to finish off the project Students not familiar with Facebook could design a passport.

Imagine that you could invite J.S. Bach over for coffee. Have the students write down a few questions that they would like to ask him about his music, his era or anything else. Have a class discussion on what the answers would be or choose a student to be Bach and ask them some of the questions. For an extra special addition to this activity, have the class bring in some gingerbread or other traditional German snack to share.

Have the class do some research to find a art work on the internet that was painted in J.S. Bach’s era. You could discuss as a class the ways that the painting shows the Baroque styling of Bach’s music.

Great pieces to listen to:

YouTube – Guitar Concerto in D major

YouTube – Gloria: Opening (Choral work)

YouTube – Violin Concerto in A minor Op. 3 No. 6

YouTube – Sonata for Flute, Bassoon and continuo in A major

Resource List

Classics for Kids – has short radio shows on Vivaldi’s life and compositions, including one on violin concertos.

Baroquemusic.org – An interesting site with biographical information as well as many other links to relevant information

Art Links

Caravaggio: The Crucifixion of St. Peter

Today when you hear keyboard music by Handel played, it is usually played on a piano. However, pianos were not around in Handel’s day and the music was originally written for an instrument called a harpsichord. Have the students research differences between the instruments, looking at the time when each instrument was invented, and the methods of sound production in each instrument.

You can then find recordings of the two instruments and listen for the differences in sound. You may like to consider the following topics:

What does each of the instruments sound like?
What factors in the instruments make them sound a particular way?
Which instruments sound do you prefer?
Do you think Handel would have liked the piano?
In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in playing baroque and classical music on original instruments. Why do you think this is so?

Handel’s oratorio The Messiah is one of his most well known works. Pretend that you are watching the very first performance ever of this piece. Imagine that after the performance you are stopped by a reporter for the local television news. What would you say? You could choose one student to be the reported, and videotape interviews with “audience” members.

Create a pretend profile for JS Bach on your favourite social networking site such as Facebook. Include “Basic Information” (Network, Birthday, Relationship Status, Religious Views), “Personal Information” (Contact details, Education and Work), “Friends” (any significant people who lived at the same time as Bach) and finally you’ll want to add some “groups” that Bach may have belonged in. Find a photo on the internet to finish off the project Students not familiar with Facebook could design a passport.

Imagine that you could invite J.S. Bach over for coffee. Have the students write down a few questions that they would like to ask him about his music, his era or anything else. Have a class discussion on what the answers would be or choose a student to be Bach and ask them some of the questions. For an extra special addition to this activity, have the class bring in some gingerbread or other traditional German snack to share.

Find a work of art on the internet that was created around the same time that Bach was alive. Do some research to find some of the ways that the art work reflects the same Baroque style that Bach’s music does.

Create a pretend profile for JS Bach on your favorite social networking site such as Facebook. Include “Basic Information” (Network, Birthday, Relationship Status, Religious Views), “Personal Information” (Contact details, Education and Work), “Friends” (any significant people who lived at the same time as Bach) and finally you’ll want to add some “groups” that Bach may have belonged in. Find a photo on the internet to finish off the project Students not familiar with Facebook could design a passport.

Imagine that you could invite J.S. Bach over for coffee. Make a list of three questions you would like to ask him about his life or the time in history that he lived. You could even choose a student to be J.S. Bach and answer questions from the rest of the class. For an extra special addition to this activity, have the class bring in some gingerbread or other traditional German snack to share.

Have the class do some research to find a art work on the internet that was painted in J.S. Bach’s era. You could discuss as a class the ways that the painting shows the Baroque styling of Bach’s music.

The Four Seasons: Spring 1st Movement.

Before listening to the 1st Movement of Spring, discuss what kind of things you associate with Spring. Brainstorm a list (e.g. flowers blooming, birds etc) and talk about what musical effects/sounds you could possibly use to represent them. Next, read the English translation of the Italian sonnet that Vivaldi’s Spring is based on:

Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Now, as you listen to the music, identify the elements as they occur (birds, streams, thunderstorms and birds again). Afterwards, discuss the techniques Vivaldi uses to portray these images.

After reviewing the differences between the piano and the harpsichord, listen to recordings of each of these instruments and then discuss the actual differences in sound. Here are some starting points for your class discussion:

How would you describe the sound of each instrument?
Can you think of any factors in either instrument that may influence the way the music sounds?
Which instruments sound do you prefer?
Do you think Handel would have liked the piano?
In recent years, there has been a lot of interest in playing baroque and classical music on original instruments. Why do you think this is so?

One of Handel’s best known works is the oratorio The Messiah. Pretend that you are watching the very first performance ever of this piece. Imagine that after the performance you are stopped by a reporter for the local television news. What would you say? You could choose one student to be the reported, and videotape interviews with “audience” members.

These were just a few ideas you could use if creating a music lesson plan about this subject.